WP:IDIDNTHEARTHAT in direct contradiction of policy
WP:AFD explicitly states: "Consider making the page a useful redirect or proposing it be merged rather than deleted. Neither of these actions requires an AfD." (A position that is further supported elsewhere in that policy, and not to my knowledge explicitly contradicted anywhere elese.) Your "side" is simply an unsubstantiated attempt to argue around that clear statement to reach an equally unsubstantiated conclusion that AfDs are required for redirects. Archiving (and even deletion) of it is permissible under WP:TALK#Others' comments "Deleting material not relevant to improving the article"  as discussion of a "side" that is directly contradicted by policy has no relevance. As you have seen fit to unarchive it, I will userfy them to your talkpage, where you can admire them in their unarchived irrelevant splendour. TalkStalk