Wikifights: Wikipedia Articles that Read Like Debates

Many of the obvious worries about Wikipedia have been dismissed over time.

However, Wikipedia does have some really odd stylistic flaws. Awkwardly, many Wikipedia articles read like debates. Here's a wikifight from Boxing the Compass:

Despite the name of the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock movie, North by Northwest, there is no such direction. However, old-timers allow three letter directions to have a 'by' inserted beween the first and second letter. Hence, NNW becomes North by Northwest, per Hitchcock's title.

You tell me, is "North by Northwest" a direction or not? (And who are these "old-timers?" Are they Hitchcock fans?)