"appeal" - someone said something that highly surprised me. Apparently, the AC of enwiki 'endorsed' the blockade, but still you consider an appeal realistic? I'm sorry, but I would find the chance of honest ruling very low, nearing zero, in case if that same group of judges first endorsed the fact they have to judge... Personally, I feel that AC should never "endorse" stuff without it being a case submitted to them. But that might be more a side discussion.
Lodewijk
An appeal is not futile. For one thing the policy might be changed or it might be decided the policy which exists does not apply in this case. If a close examination of his editing record shows no activist activity, it might be considered unfair to do external research which established his identity. But then, if Ryan could do it, anyone, including an investigative journalist could have done it.
Fred