Have you considered he may be a relatively well-known figure in this space, thus generating additional interest that a less-prolific user may not? Due to the rarity of tagging a user in the first place you bring further attention when tagging anyone in any comment regardless of their popularity.
When that tag involves accusations of pedophile apologia or Zionist-washing without providing evidence it will receive negative attention regardless of the user’s popularity.
Your suspicions regarding paid engagement ignores the rational explanation that he is simply a recognizable name. Those suspicions are further undercut by tagging him and accusing him of reprehensible behavior. You personally have increased engagement with your actions.
Please, by all means, provide us with evidence that Pug abuses his banhammer. Mod logs aren’t hidden. If his actions are scummy or inappropriate for his position then prove it. Regardless of his popularity you would be doing a favor for the entire fediverse in doing so.
I fucking hate Musk but in what world is SpaceX unprofitable? If you’re talking about xAI then I’ll agree with you, but with the access to space and starlink/starshield wrapped up in it SpaceX is positioned as the most likely of the AI companies to receive a government bailout when the balloon pops.