Lister
I agree that your approach is far more likely to be successful. Having said that people are funny. I have A friend whos properties are divided by common land and they are forever arguing about who should park on it.
They were best of friends and now dont talk over the most petty of arguemnts.
I would also hazard a guess that some people have such empty lives that they seek out causes to attach to.
While in this case the owner may have pushed the limits of acceptability for his landing strip there are many instances of residence associations who have nothing better to do with their time and lives but attacking small airfields to destruction while happily causing a nuisance with their own hobbies.
Usually when they win aided by the media and often ertired ex squadron leaders they end up with an industrial estate and form a "save the sleepy airfield campaign instead".
I am a cynic and find people can be the most odd of creatures
But yes your approach is more likely to get a result than going head to head but not always
Pace