i think allowing anyone to add to the initial topic is a bad thing to do, if they had a way to lock them so just the 2 people who need to hash it out, can without 20+ replies from others on how this or that was in the past, each situation is different regardless of past history and chances are someone left out major important factors or where side tracked along the way. this is why i say it is like a witch hunt there. since to many get unnecessarily involved.
ETA: i am not condoning any shady deals, or actions of anyone who has done so with intent. but sometimes things happen along the process.