Prefacing by saying I wasn't at polan this year so I don't know specifics of what occurred but I know the overall story and accusations. I have known Nicky for several years (can't speak for Roticher as I don't know him as well), and I would be surprised if he continued engaging in negative behaviours after being told not to. He's been a straight laced individual who doesn't engage in conflicts or negative behaviours like verbal/physical assault, harassment or worse. Anytime I've seen him in a situation like this, he is the one to walk away. Most high level players know him too, and I think many would be surprised if he turned out to be such an unsavoury individual that is worthy of a 3-year in person and online ban.
I understand a ban from an event in person where people feel unsafe, however I'm surprised anyone feels unsafe around him, as I'm sure if he was taken aside and told to stop behaving in such a manner that made people uncomfortable, he would. He doesn't get overly intoxicated at events like these, he is an approachable person, and he engages with people when they talk to him. There is no reason why he should be feeling like he wasn't communicated with at the event and also during the judicial process unless those who state they "communicated" with him actually did an awful job on their side. If people did make a decision without talking to the accused, then I would be very hesitant to accept any decision from those individuals.
I, the same as others in this thread, am not accepting them having autism as an excuse. However, there are always going to be awkward interactions just due to the nature that alcohol is served and people get overly intoxicated leading to a lack of control over actions (whether or not they know how to act isn't even relevant). I am not using alcohol intoxication as an excuse either, as I agree with many others that getting too drunk and acting in a Pedro Pascal-esque manner deserves a ban.
People should be mature during situations that occur and raise concerns appropriately, however before full bans, due diligence should be done from investigators and it seems it was not done properly due to the accused never being communicated with. It seems like there was a lack of maturity and forwardness in dealing with the situation, concerns not raised appropriately during the event and a lack of proper investigation.
If Roticher's ban is less, I can only assume a lesser "crime" (if you can call what either of them did a crime anyway).
Banning from an in person event to ensure people feel safe is a very knee-jerk reaction that appears to me to be an overreaction to a minor incident. However, the organisers are well within their right to do so to ensure the event runs smoothly and safely for all involved.
Mirroring the ban to the online league without doing any due diligence is an absolute disgrace, especially when the other main European lan does do due diligence and finds no serious fault worthy of a ban. The feelings of safety to this incident are clearly not severe. If we are banning people for being unsavoury individuals to the degree Nicky was, then the majority of the league should be banned at this point. Plenty of individuals have made others feel uncomfortable in this community, however very few make others feel unsafe. This is an important line to draw, and I feel this is a situation where people were uncomfortable and not unsafe.