IMHO, a position statement (and definition of terms) - especially concerning philosophy - is very important in these contentious debates.
There is a difference between a materialist and a physicalist. Some who are accused of being materialist are actually physicalist, because although their epistemology is materialistic, their metaphysics are something else.
This subject was explored at length starting around post 4284.
IMHO, lurkers have little patience for the pontification or excessive verbiage which can result from a failure to establish basic positions. So, although I can appreciate the desire to separate the metaphysical to a new thread, I suspect everyone's argument would be better received by passers-by if a position statement were made here.