I'll give Hammerdown the benefit of the doubt as he came on strong when joining and seems to be a fellow who appreciates fine S&W revolvers. My understanding ends there.
While I personally have never had any problems at the John Sevier range, many others hereabouts have. For whatever reason is really inconsequential. The fact of the matter is the "rules" and attitude at the range depend on the RSO's on duty.
New shooters are given no orientation, the "rules" are posted on a shack out of sight that no one is going to look at, and every RSO runs the range as they see fit. Every RSO calls hot and cold differently...some announce the rules regarding going downrange, some don't. If you have a gun they are interested in they will talk to you and leave you alone.
There is no written rule I have ever seen about "rapid-fire" being more than one round per minute (and I am a VRPC member, for now). That one is completely at the discretion of the RSO's.
I fully understand it is a public range and any retard is allowed to shoot there, but many of them do not understand the rules. It is up to the RSO's to help, not scold or bark orders, to those who do not behave the way they like. I always thought playing the part meant helping and educating people on properly enyoing the sport in a safe manner.