We each have our breaking point. Anyone will break when subject to a verbal tirade of appropriate intensity. Yes, even you, Mr/Miss AC. It's just as valid a reason as family, health, or job issues.
You are not in a position to call out his character, unless you've experienced what he did. Unless you've volunteered yourself, given up your precious time and effort, for no recompense, and then been insulted, threatened, cursed, and have had every hateful expression thrown at you for your work. You cannot judge, because you just don't _know_.
The fact that there is such a toxic environment is the cause of my worry. That environment is not just in Debian developer circles. Every Slashdot poster, AC or otherwise, that has cheered this decision is a contributor to that poison. Every hater that has posted in any forum is a contributor to that poison. If you have done so, think long and hard about where you want open source software to go. Because if it continues down this path, there will be little future for it, and that's quite sad to me.
The positive thing to do, rather than rant and rave, is to go out and create a better alternative! Create, rather than destroy. I believe that forking is a positive thing to do. At least you're creating something new, which may even have a future, instead of cursing those who are actually trying to do something.