I will never understand the gatekeeping of forks, all the fuss about whether they should be "allowed" or not.

It's goddamned free software.

If they're not allowed, its not goddamned free software.

One of the four freedoms is the ability to modify the code as you see fit to service your purposes in any way you desire.  If you remove that, it does not have all four freedoms, and it is not free software.