Much as he was a smug git occasionally, he only really argued a point if he was sure he was right in what he was saying, he wouldn't argue just for the sake of it. Having said that, once he had an opinion there was no way anyone could change it no matter how persuasive your argument was.
Think the site will be less entertaining without him. Maybe he just needed a temporary ban to give both sides a chance to cool off but a permanent ban seems a bit harsh.