I'm coming late to the fair, and haven't struggled thru the whole thread, but thought this question

"I would genuinely appreciate an answer to an important question concerning the use of 'c*nt' [not by me], & how it differs from my previous use of the same word in undisguised form, which I posted this morning at 08-05 a.m. It is a question asked in true search of academic enlightenment as to the distinction. "

...deserves a fair answer:

Writing a presumptively offensive word such as "n*gg*r" or "c*nt" with asterisks or other punctuation in place of vowels shows that the writer is aware that it's a word that can give offence and is disclaiming any such intention.

Using the canonical spelling leaves the writer open to the presumption that he (most often he) is, at minimum, an inadequately-socialised pillock.