yichusdik: mdd is correct in the pashut pshat in the Gemorah. The only reason the Gemorah brought the story, was to demonstrate it was a praiseworthy action. Also, you keep repeating that one must be on some madreiga to make a macho’o against a wrongdoing. There is no such thing. What gives you the idea one must be a certain madreiga (source)?
Also, you say there are differences of opinion that are acceptable, in defending your right to your opinion on this issue. So even putting aside the issue of your being wrong on the issue, by your own standards you must at least acknowledge mdd’s and others right to their position of the correctness of making a macho’o and giving tochacha. So when the macho’o is made, you by your own standards stated in your last comment must accept their right to make that macho’o,