"I also see it as a pointless ineffective punishment if that is how it was intended"

I doubt the petty, but well publized, vandalism was intended as 'punishment' Lox but rather 'propagande par le fait' the anarchist concept of propaganda by the deed by which acts of symbolic violence against structural targets are intended to evoke a broader meaning.

Not being an anarchist, I agree that attempts to undertake individualised reprisals against the nearest available fat cat, rather than patiently building a political response are ultimately counterproductive however, a comment I read stated
"But if people don't feel strongly enough to throw bricks through windows, then attempts to direct that feeling into better channels will peter out."

"... direct action comes from frustration that there seems to be no way of achieving justice through peaceful channels.
And this is probably the only way to wake the Government up to the fact that we really will have to control these fat-cats or there really will be a boom in the glaziery business"