Not sure if you mean the solution, or the problem they were trying to solve.

The problem is the cost here is paid by a group of volunteers, no? It's objectively reducing capacity for a really important public project by 20%. If you're responsible for keeping a public good like this available, it seems obvious to me to want to prevent this overuse of resources. Only one of the 3 parties involved here is not willing to engage in good faith right now and causing harm. I don't understand a need to try and tolerate them.