Flagging does push a post down the ranks; I've never heard of summoning a moderator. Flags alone can also kill stories entirely if they come before it gains many points. The voting ring detection and flame-war detection code also push a post down the ranks.

So, the Lessig post could've been flagged, the comments on it could've triggered the flame war code, or a moderator did it.

What almost definitely didn't happen is "Apple fan boys at work" flagging down anything anti-Apple. When you use the flag link any more than extremely sparingly, you lose the privilege, permanently.