I promise to try harder in letting you guys be part of the decision-making

Unless we are part of TPtB's decision making, then it won't make any difference. You can do everything in your power and it won't do a thing to fix the situation, simply because it has become clear that you and the other admins are absolutely powerless to whip TPtB into shape (which is desperately needed if this site is to survive) and get them to realize how self-destructive their Prime neutering, poorly excuted redesigns, the crappy/modest/super-short sales, and offsite freebie/MP/personal link ban (which the competition does not engage in) is.

that doesn't mean that we're not listening. I apologize if it seems like I'm belittling or talking to you guys like children.

The problem is that TPtB are not listening, and your silence (specifically lack of complaining or voiced critisicm to TPtB's decisions) suggests to us that you agree with every one of their decisions. This causes people to view you as an accomplice to the destruction of this site, and also results in them not trusting you. Admins who have kept silent or so much as voiced thinly-veiled disagreement with specific aspects of the new rule, or complained about how TPtB refuse to listen to them, are not viewed as accomplices, or at least not to the same degree. Admins like LPR who have been exponentially more helpful in answering questions are trusted more. Admins who do not post smileys or act all cheery as the site crumbles all around them, and as they get yelled at are trusted more (because this makes your smileys... look like a Walmart Greeter smile-- minus the creepy aspect, that is) Which from the looks of it you have at least stopped, and I sincerely thank you very much for that, and for listening to us about that, as for some of us it did feel a bit patronizing.