My observations:
My impression is the discussion about the change to "chair" is dominated by people who take far more exception to the change not happening, and those who would prefer it to stay "chairman" probably really don't care too much - the few that like chairman are really not too bothered - and just expressing a preference. So, is all the bluster from the pro-change faction proportionate? - probably not. But the change IS necessary, even if it's really not a major concern.
It reminds me of the Culture Wars currently underway across the Atlantic where silly issues are magnified right out of proportion and nobody promoting the culture war is the slightest bit interested in debating things that matter.
And meanwhile, all this silly arguing is providing a convenient smokescreen for far more substantive changes, which really should be the focus of constructive debate, and which have been sidelined.