I think the issue lies in the SE team's failure to communicate the issue properly.
I have to agree that HopelessN00b was making mass changes without community consensus. However, the issue wasn't as well communicated to him as it should have.
If a moderator appears to be trying to usurp the community, there should be warnings stating clearly the nature of the issue:
HopelessN00b, I'm becoming very concerned about the recent actions you've been taking. It seems you're acting without community consensus, mass-closing questions without seeking input from the user base at large. Keep in mind that moderators are supposed to act on behalf of the community, not in place of it. Before making any drastic changes to the site, even if supported by established rules, please ask about it on Meta and have the community play its part—don't just take it into your hands without letting anyone know.