Certainly the last thing we poor Mods want to do is direct a course of conversation. We expect the Rules to do most of that.

But we are on the receiving end of the Rule #12 complaints that flow in and have to deal with each complaint.

That's why this thread has undergone what it has and continues to do.

Miscellaneous is not the same as a "General Discussion" - it still carries specific threads whose titles would end up as nonsensical over time if they became a free for all.