The biggest issue is power tripping reddit mods, and mods trying to shape the discourse by deleting posts or banning dissenting voices.
Banning someone because their software uses AI is clearly an example of it.
Now, post removals, we do a lot more of. We do try to moderate the sub such that it has an open, positive vibe in line with it's stated purpose.
I do fully understand what you're saying though. I've been banned for everything from merely asking that a sub enforce it's rules consistently, to asking for sources, to even posting in a particular collection of subs that another sub found objectionable. You have to run pretty far afoul of reddits sitewide rules as a mod to be removed from the position. That's why you see so many thing2 or thingNoCensor subs on subreddit maps.
I do agree HN is substantially better, more behaved though I find many too questionable