And mods do step in, but the mechanism for drawing their attention, as I've noted, and as the HN Guidelines note (<https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html>), is email. Not long HN threads about abysmal moderation.
Sure. I'm saying it's fair to say this system is showing signs of failing in the current context. That's in part due to people not emailing mods. But that requirement is one that's controlled by the moderators.