I think it is also just so sad that Karo has been banned. This is no different really than getting anything else by mistake. If you get too much change back at a grocery store or restaurant and they find out do you get banned from the place? No because it was their fault.
I also however see thier side. I know it must be hard for them, maybe impossible, to tell who actually hacked to get the codes, and who got the chairs by accident so it is a case of "one bad apple" definintely, and the fact that the way to do it popped up on fansite just makes them more angry. I understand they need to set an example to prevent this from happeneing again. There is no way for them to know who did what wrong, who did something by mistake, or who was gifted these chairs, so I can see both sides of the argument. the only thing I feel should have been taken into consideration is Karo's CL status. He clearly is a repected member of the game and I am sure he was not to blame in this fiasco. He should have at least been given the opportuinity to explain how he got the chairs.
I think everyone is probably more angry that this happened to a known and loved member of the game (and the DIS) than the 30 day ban itself, and the fact that this person might not return to the game because of the way VMK handled it.I am just so thankful that they did allow everyone that was gifted the chairs to sell them before facing a ban and lets be happy that alot of our friends were saved from the punishment and that nobody got a lifetime ban.