Deeper problems in the Linux kernel

I think the only time you can justifiably wish for a maintainer to step away if they are non-responsive (which isn't the case here). When they clearly and timely object, then "should step away" is an unjustified expectation; they *are* doing what they promised to do as a reviewer: namely, to comment on contributions. If you don't like their point, you can fork the code, or try to route around them (eject them from power, perhaps by escalating to someone higher up).