While you might think that AE is not the place for discussion, that's clearly not correct.  The template that we use to file RfEs creates a section specifically for discussion.  Why are we inviting editors at AE to engage in discussion if AE isn't the place for discussion? Obviously, that doesn't make any sense.  
And, since you brought it up (not me), I strongly disagree that AE discussion is only between administrators and not between anyone else.  Admins are simply editors with an extra bit.  Any uninvolved editors have as much right to participate in the discussions as anyone else.  It is the role of admins to carry out the consensus of these discussions.  Nothing more, nothing less.