@90lxwhite you really haven't been around here long enough to start talking the talk just yet, so it's probably best you don't. People (mods included) giving Rick the benefit of the doubt had nothing to do with him being a "site sponsor or vendor or whatever he was" and everything to do with him being a stand up individual, who was/is a master at his craft, willing to volunteer his time and knowledge free of charge to those who asked for it and all around nice guy. A reputation like that earns you a certain amount of respect....at least where I'm from.If he wasnt a site sponsor or vendor or whatever he was I don't think the moderators would've been so quick to step up and brow beat the op and the others who thought he was acting unprofessional in the way he was conducting business.
Something is certainly amiss, and there's no doubt he owes a few members here a serious explanation and a good bit of restitution....but without knowing all of the details, I'll reserve further judgement.
I've seen good men do bad things and bad men do good things. Stress, money issues, health problems, family crisis can all test a man. Until you've walked a mile in his shoes and have all of the facts (and not just a bunch of internet speculation), it's probably best not to throw stones.