We need to liberate the masses from their brainwashing.

No we don't. Just move away from the masses and watch them destroy themselves from a distance.

I will NEVER deny that until M7 starts evolving in a serious way.

Won't happen.

I agree, not to focus on the masses, but they need to be considered.

Yes, a good forum platform should appeal to the masses on their own terms. Just don't expect them to become enlightened.

Pros/cons as to whether segregation would actually improve things.

Just give forum owners whatever tools they want to deal with spam, and leave it up them which tools they use. In other words, this should not be decided at the platform level. Personally I don't need any tools since removing spam from my forums is easy enough.