For the OMAT kickstarter, I find the dust up quite interesting -if people want to donate that's their choice - many fund film productions on kickstarter that could clearly be paid by movie studios and there was controversy then too. Ask your readers what they want and clearing they want to read aspirational travels and are willing to pay for it. I've seen travel bloggers (not points bloggers) with engaged communities who pay to subscribe each month to content - works for some not all. Each business model is different this is free marketing drawing more attention.
As for personal attacks, that's never good and it always bothers me how quickly some turn nasty and resort to horrible behavior