I am glad this debate got going too. Both sides have good points. I just want to throw one in there too.
I am a motorhead. I have a sportscar that I take to the track. I have a vintage truck I take to car shows. I have a pickup I take through the mountains. I burn a lot of fuel.
In a normal year, I also spend a fair amount of time living off the grid. My home is pretty much self-sufficient and requires little power. I also spend time camping, hiking, climbing, fishing, doing all that fun outdoor shit.
There are a lot of people who have the same range of varied interests as I do. Your argument seems to ignore that fact. It is not an us-vs-them because often, the us and the them are the same person. However, we try hard not to get sanctimonious about our "carbon footprint" and bike rides.
Wanting some peace and quiet in the woods appeals to most folks. Putting out a rational plea to allow that pleasure to remain in place makes sense. The rest of everything else just sounds like bullshit.
Good luck to your effort; I truly hope that area remains a haven for hikers.