The protocol allows it and there's no way around it, so clients and users need to know.
Take another example, what if I just delete all notes that are a year old? Surely it's not expected that free relays store notes forever...
So is that censoring?
Discussion
In that case, no it won't be censoring. My only point is that if something like this is done (whether it be removing shitcoin scams or pruning year old content), someone who doesn't like that decision can always switch to a new relay.
In the end, it is their decision what relay they choose to broadcast and receive notes from, because the client is in control.
I understand your position and as a relay operator your running hardware that has wear and tear. Most in the thread including myself hate the spam and I would be all for deleting it as their not adding any positive value to the ecosystem.
I think the mixed opinions in this thread are just us having flashbacks of what we ran away from. Many people fear being wrongly censored and not knowing about it because someone in a position of control didn't like something they said.