I think I'd say that everything useful that was going to be said on that thread had been said, and even most of the nastiness seemed to have subsided. Big Mick promptly and handsomely apologised for his un-needed dig at Lizzie (although it was peanuts to some of the other catty remarks). There were earlier times when closing the thread could have been see as necessary intervention, but by the time it happened I don't think it was necessary - although it did no harm.