Blocks aren't intended or enforced as punishment - they're intended and enforced to prevent users from engaging in disruptive or unseemly conduct, that adversely affects either the encyclopedia, or its other users. Where long term misconduct does not stop after sufficient education and warnings (in this case, it was more than sufficient), long term prevention is applied. Sometimes, misconduct might be serious enough to carry lengthy blocks, whether it's several months, a year, or indefinite. And yes, you've mostly understood correctly for the second half of your reply - (but failing to live up to an assurance of not engaging in that misconduct will result in future sanctions/blocks, or if it still doesn't stop after these, the community may enforce a ban).      