This isn't some kind of dark secret backdoor spez built into the reddit codebase. Immature and stupid action maybe, but some kind of scary sentinel of how admin power can be uniquely abused at reddit, it isn't.
The argument here isn't if he should have did it, he obviously shouldn't have. The argument is about how incredibly overdone the outrage over the specific circumstances is.
Of course it is possible.
That it was done, and why is a big issue.
And it did not need to be done, nor that way.
A direct edit can make sense, and when it does, there is also every reason to communicate why.
The why of what spez did is a significant contributor to the controversy. Lack of a record and no communication, until forced is another significant contributor.
People do care. And this is a basic trust problem inherent to computing.
Ever notice how there is often redundancy and history present?
This is why.
Another place this shows up is electronic voting. Lack of personally identifiable records leave people in a position of forced trust, unable to know the record is accurate.
Motive plays a role here.
Spez had a childish, bigger dick type ego motive. Untrustworthy.
The same exact thing done to protect someone, and done with rational communication would be far less controversial.
As for the hard drive, the defense must speak to motive and it must be compelling, or we are all likely to trust the person doing that necessary work.
Your comparison is germane, but too simple, in my view.
Reddit is not always casual chat.
There is hide, delete and edit with a clear history for all involved.
Touching the database changes the record of reality without leaving history of it happening.
The database edit is what drove the spez controversy.