Quote - i think if we decide to remove all critical comments in the galleries then it will very sadly send a negative message to the rest of the community

[...]it would send the message that the gallery is an inappropriate place for critical comments. 

personally, i think we should each do what's most comfortable. 

Hmmm... maybe you're right.
Those who would like to discuss their wips in details and show progress of an image could start a thread in a forum or... post in gallery and move discussion to a forum if needed?
So everybody could do what suits best for them at specific time/in specific case...