I had the cup of purple kool-aid in hand, I was actually considering PA. It sounded so easy, a perfect example of a siren song luring you onto the rocks. Because of boards like this and sites like P&E I woke up just in time, and now wouldn't touch that cesspit with a 10-foot pole.
As for criticizing some of the writers and their writing. I read an excerpt of a novel written entirely during NaNoWriMo and 'submitted' to PA pretty much 'as is.' Of course, it was accepted and given the 'chance it deserves.' It is bad. It is so horrible it would have to improve to be terrible. NNWM spewing at its worst. I'd tell her that to her face. However, even that doesn't bother me. I've written my share of dreck and will, no doubt, continue to do so.
What makes them fair game is that they strut and preen about being 'published authors', and about how being a 'published author' is difficult work, and how the limelight of being a 'published author' is worth losing your privacy for and so on and so on. The fake FAQ pages on some of the websites are a hoot. Q - "So when did you decide to become a published author." A- "Well, I have always written and decided it was time to enlighten the world by providing them with the inspiration of my stories. It was time to share my gift. Publish America brought my gift to the world."
When you act like this, you are fair game. Just like anyone else who behaves pompously. I used to be a serious comic and sci fi collector. I got to meet some of the greats in comic art. In general, with only a few exceptions, the bigger they were, the nicer and more humble they were. It was the one-hit-wonder wannabes that were pompous and obnoxious. And gone by the next convention.
Boards like this provide a valuable professional and public service. But then, I am just a jealous toady bug, so what do I know . . .