If anything, the_donald has gotten preferential treatment compared to everyone else. They've routinely broke rules and ignored warnings from admins. If any other subreddit did what they've done it'd be banned instantly. Instead Reddit keeps giving r/T_D leeway because they don't want to seem biased.

Here's a list from a year ago of rules they've broken: https://old.reddit.com/r/AgainstHateSubreddits/comments/851r...

I'm not sure that AgainstHateSubreddits is exactly an impartial observer here. Or anything close to it.

Value to whom? Reddit has decided that they do not value the users being deplatfomed. Any value you receive from the platform as a user is a byproduct.

Pool funds for VMs and fire up phpBB or IRC if unhappy with the platforms available.

Gab did that and was summarily attacked by silicon Valley et al., so I guess you would have to build an entirely separate internet infrastructure instead of just opening up shop with phpBB.

People who are concerned about the politico-media complex.