In Europe GDPR gives you the right to have all your data deleted. All you do is send in a request and SO has to remove everything of yours, not just anonymize it. There are some exceptions for legal reasons, eg where financial transactions are involved, but comments should not be exempt.
I’d be shocked if deleted comments weren’t retained by them
I think the reason for those bans is that they don’t want you rebelling and are showing that they don’t need you personally, thus ban.
Of course it’s all retained.
They have been un-deleting after they ban.
Isn’t that illegal in most countries?
In Europe GDPR gives you the right to have all your data deleted. All you do is send in a request and SO has to remove everything of yours, not just anonymize it. There are some exceptions for legal reasons, eg where financial transactions are involved, but comments should not be exempt.