Tom, you have, at multiple times in the past, said that it is acceptable to ban characters who log in, but fail to follow orders.
That is what these nobles were doing, and that is what they were banned for. "You received clear orders [...] and answered back only with silence." The ban reason says nothing about inactivity.
Sure, they could have been kicked out of their estates, instead—but that still gives them access to troop movements and all realmwide chatter, at the very least. With no way to tell they are not spies, and them clearly actively ignoring orders for months, what good reason is there not to ban them?
