and a form letter reminder that self-consistency is not a virtue [..] making it clear that this community's respect is contingent on [..]

Is changing professed beliefs to something else without understanding / agreeing with the new position, but just doing it to gain community respect, a virtue?

Tim, and the rest of the class of commenters to which you refer, simply haven't learned how to lose.

Or still isn't convinced that he is wrong by the time you have passed your tolerance of explaining so you give up and decide he must be broken. Your proposed 'solution' is a hack so you can give up on convincing him but still have him act convinced for the benefit of appearances - maybe you are simply expecting far far too short inferential distances?