Let me put it this way: If I get a post reported for profanity, personal attack, trolling, whatevs. I scrupulously treat it the same regardless of whether the target of the complaint is a mod or not. I've infracted and reported posts by fellow mods (both on one particular post yesterday, actually).
I think I know who and what you're talking about.
I believe you and don't consider you to be in the "asshole" group and I agree with calling them out more than reporting them (I've never reported a post). And that's what I did yesterday that caused one of the assholes in question to post something you had to edit (I'm sure it was classy as always).
I assumed Memphis's post was half tongue in cheek or just a flat out joke (like your above post), but I don't (can't) know.