I'm fine giving the mods some arbitrariness in the punishment because they have usually backchanneled with the offender and can gauge the reaction their previous cautioning received. If the offender is contrite, leniency is fine. If they become belligerent and argumentative, that tells the Mods a gentle ban is not going to help. No need to handcuff them, I say. I find I agree with their bans more often than I disagree.