I always thought pretty much this exact same way. I just cannot do it anymore though. I gotta block them, and even though I agree that it can lead to a lack of challenges to their doomspreading, it may be better for us as a community if we just block liberally. The mods often side with them and I really have no time to tear them down point by point anyhow. 2020 honestly broke me on even trying to do that. People like that will ignore everything they cannot deny and come back with a personal attack, as you said. If enough people block these users, maybe their campaigns will start to feel futile and they'll either stop or dial it down.