It's usually more polite and productive to address people directly than go around their backs. I read the rules and I know that mods reserve the write to modify and remove posts without warning or reason, so he's well within his rights to do that. I also think it isn't unreasonable for me to feel that I can express what I feel about him removing posts like that. Most forums have a thread where users can chat about whatever topic they choose with no restrictions, as this topic is in the casual forums, and as it feels redundant and outdated as we can just post about whatever topics we want on the actual forum rather than here, I assumed this thread turned into one of those off-topic threads where people just chill and chat, and in a way it has.
You're free to moderate this thread however you choose, I still maintain that you're being too strict, and that this particular thread should be given special treatment.
For the record, the pro gamer vs casual gamer discussion did go on for too long and I found my self rolling my eyes and skipping posts in the last few pages, so there's that.