Good post, I think whats also frustrating is the whole thing makes the NHL look bush league and gives the casual sports fan another reason to think the sport and the NHL is a joke. You'd never see this kind of nonsense in the NFL or MLB, suspensions are usually handed out quickly and for the most part are very consistent....they also hurt.
Look at some of the head shots this year, Richards gets nothing, Lapierre gets 4 games, Neil no suspension, Cooke...don't know yet. Why is there no consistent and quick penalty for something the NHL says it wants to eliminate from the game? Such a track record makes them look both stupid and hypocritical, they set precidents and then ignore them. If the issue wasn't so serious it would be rather comical to be honest.
Here's an interesting article written last year during the playoffs, its a little Bruins heavy and written by the biggest Bruins homer alive, Jack Edwards, but he makes a great point about the NHL and its "dartboard" justice system. Rather a good read considering the topic and hand.
Dartboard Justice in NHL - Jack Edwards - NESN.com