Nice summary of your perspective on this.

I think it gets complicated when you are using SP delegated from others, or their investment, or doing something in their name. But if we could take that out of it I think you were right to flag them. @transito and co were right to speak up for their perspective on the chain too and used their stake to send a message to you too. And @el-mago was good to deescalate. All appropriate actions within the system, and negotiated socially.

One point:

I suppose creative commons protects them for use in education, but when it's commercial and Steem gets involved maybe that's a violation too.

This is fair use, not CC.