SYAG,
“I personally think a major difference is that people view the “black hatters” as self proclaimed holier people so their infarctions are considered hypocrisy in addition to bad middos.”
Hum – I thought that the “non black hatters” assert that they are no less holy. Who is being hypocritical? And who is prejudging someones intentions?
At a minimum, it is a very poor excuse, to the point that it has no legs to stand on.
Ther are those who wear specific yarmulkas/kippot to proclaim a political affiliation or even hashkafic affiliation. Those who don the yalmulka/kippot with such intentions are fair game as far as being identified by that label that they have chosen to display.