Legitimate? Really, edition wars are just people telling each other how they're having badwrongfun. I mean, that's it really. We've been debating issues this whole time, and its practically devolved into that a few times. The ban wasn't on discussing differences between editions (even with value judgements), it was on large scale "My game is better than your game" threads.
Now, I have found the Ignore Thread option (which is lovely, I must say), but I find the fact that ENWorlders are trying to impose their preferences on other ENWorlders frankly disgusting. Just let each other play the game you like. Debate individual topics. But, for the love of all that is holy, why must anyone berate, demean, or otherwise insult another edition of Dungeons & Dragons, the game we are all gathered here to talk about, regardless of edition.
I don't see anything legitimate about edition wars at all.
This.
I voted to lift the ban, but only with the restrictions Mouseferatu suggested.
If we have to lift the ban, I'd vote for these restrictions as well. I'm not seeing that people mindlessly screaming "your game edition sucks!" is really a great social or intellectual boon here. Perhaps instead of locking the thread, just start popping users for vacations. Enough heads on pikes might get it through heads how to be a little more civil.