Feif: I will tell you the difference, and it is clear as day. There are/were major, major Rabbonim who strongly disagreed, even on a personal level, with R’ Tendler (heck, even major “Modern” Rabbonim think he goes too far sometimes) and R’ Soloveitchik (though there were very, very few Rabbonim of a high caliber that attacked him), among others. No one of any caliber attacked R’ Yoel on a personal level. You can critique his opinions, but not him personally.
Personal attacks against R’ Kook should not be allowed to stand though. He was the nearly-undisputed Posek HaDor. You can argue with his Shittos, but attacking him personally costs you your Chelek in Olam Haba.