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Hi!
I think that the Epic-A Playtest Forums could learn a lot from how we do things on the NetEpic list. We have been around for 6 years and have had something like 2 or maybe 3 things that can qualify as flamewars (and mild ones compared to the norm on the net) in that entire time. How do we do it?
Well, I realize that Jervis is a busy man, but not more so than myself or any other person with careers and family. I think he should have "assigned" moderators from the get go, NOT based on posting volume. Heck I'd vote for any of you guys (Dafrca, Maksim, Nealhunt, Jimbo, etc.), since I have seen you guys around the Epic scene, in some cases, years. Once responsible people got into those critical roles, then they could guide, summarize and otherwise make Jervis's collection of data simpler. Its important for the moderator, or my case the coordinator to have people's trust. You don't need to like me, but you need to beleive I am fair.
This also reduces the amount of people who "don't get heard". One of my main jobs on the NetEpic list is to point out to the more vocal and involved participants that a fellow member who may not be too vocal has said something important and it must be discussed and evaluated. Everyone's opinion is important and its easy to just listen to the most frequent poster and overlook that gem that a less frequent poster has written.
Do polls. Yeah, it's a pain and, yes, they may not be representative, but they are a tool and a useful one. Find out what people expect the game to be. My largest critisism about this playtest project is that before sitting down to design, they should have asked a couple of simple questions:
1. What Is Epic?
2. What is the scope it should encompass?
3. What you absolutely MUST have in this game for it to be great for you?
4. What you can live without?
I dont expect full, unanimous agreement, but you can establish trends and work from there.
Finally if you ask for feedback, listen to it. Nothing pisses off a person that feeling ignored. Note this does not mean acceptance nor inclusion of what the person has said, but acknowledgement of the point brought up is important.
It's all moot I think, bad blood has arisen and tainted the process, a bad sign for any fledgling game. Instead of two sides pitted against each other, we will soon see three (old Epic vs. Epic40k vs. Epic-A) sides. If we aren't already there.
I would suggest though, instead of bitterness, be constructive, why not just make your own rules? Legion-4, myself and many others do this and it's a very liberating experience.
Primarch
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UNLEASH THE BITCHING FURY!!! 
...at least with respect to the official playtest forum.
All of this is intended as good-natured venting of frustration. No offense is intended to anyone, and I don't mean to name-call or stir up a bunch of drama. If anyone thinks I am, you have my apologies. Say so, and I'll shut up.