You'll have to ask Asaf Karagila, who is not currently pingable. I have heard, though I don't have actual statistics, that he removes almost every hot network question manually.
@MattSamuel That's not fair, @Matt. Don't spread rumors you can't confirm. It isn't a terribly great question. @Joe, I would recommend you not post a meta question.
It is appropriate to either flag the question for mod attention, and explain your question to them, or to ask here, as you did, because likely only a mod can answer your question, @Joe. On meta, it would be closed as off topic because only a mod can deal with it, and meta is not to be used for questions that are directed to moderators. @Matt knows that.
@amWhy Flagging allows the mod to reply, but doesn't allow for the flagger to reply to the mod's reply. And I see no harm in asking it on meta. Like you said, it's a valid inquiry, and I don't see how asking about it "raises hell."
@MattSamuel This isn't your fight. Keep it that way, please. You've already said enough, with invalidated claims, to incite this user. I shall let others deal with this.