There's a thread going right now discussing on how likely the new change will be abused, here;

https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Does-anyone-else-think-upcoming-change-1-will-be-abused-/5-2510168/&page=3&anc=96130465#i96130465

Personally, in its proposed form I think it will be abused and will make forum sliding (a pretty well established practice among organized bad faith actors) very easy on this site.

To combat this, I suggest that with added OP privileges should come additional oversite of OPs exercising those privileges.  

One way to accomplish this is to treat the OP thread lock function the same way that the hide images function is used.

If a new guy posts a pic, any member can delete it if it’s inappropriate. But if you do and it’s fine you’re the one that gets sanctioned.

Same thing should happen with OP locks. If an OP locks you for a COC violation, cool. If the OPs just being a dick, they get sanctioned.

Right on, that’s completely fair. It was just a thought I had. I was going to mention it in the team thread but it had gotten off course so I figured I’d mention it here.