In reply to Pete O'Donovan: Excellent summary. From reading some blogs I
deduce in order of declining likelihood:
a. The bolts put in place in 2002 but only free climbed a month ago were too near to two hard aid climbs, taking 2 pitches of Arco Iris and one of Area Reservado A4+. Perhaps this name explains the controversy: Area reserved for aid climbing.
b. Cliqueyness. Conservative cliques abound in Montserrat;old guard, new guard, middle guard, trad, artificialeros, sport.
c. Professional commercialised climbs fround on, eg large Red Bull helmets, film advertising etc.
d. Ego, a tradition of not recording some ascents, including FFAs.
e. Basque triumphalism: I am Basque, or am I not Basque?. Montserrat is seat of Catalan mythology, climbing , religion, etc. Many Catalan climbers want to preserve some areas for Catalans. They do not want to advertise the area to avoid overcrowding and ethical degradation.
f. Lot of time spent top down cleaning this route, though no extra bolts or pitons were added to 2002 equipping.
Discussion
a. Aid climbing is a Catalan skill. Some Catalan aiders are probably best in world including those from Yosemite. Pelut, Silvia Vidal etc. Aiding on Montserrat is complicated, requiring all sorts of specialised techniques that confound even El Cap aiders and certainly Russians. In a 48 hour 2000 foot aid competition the main Russian team gave up unable to climb an A3 pitch however long they tried. It seems to be accepted that certain bits of rock are reserved for aiding, eg Pilar de Segre at Vilanova and presumably the underside of El Platan.
b. Montserrat is an area of tribal ethics just outside a major city. Various groups have different ideas of what they firmly, religiously believe to be right. Some want to preserve the past: If the first ascent was done with no pro, then that is how it should be done always. Over much of Montserrat conglomerate it is not possible to get in trad pro. So The old ethic, as in North American granite, was to climb until you arrived at a stance and then put in a bolt, originally a buril or flimsy staple now rusted and useless, then a spit or old style bolt more recently a parabolt a solid long lasting anchor.
So a lot of the classic routes, 4 star routes, may have 3 rusty staples in 100 feet. The guys who originally climbed the route were the cream of Catalan youth. Now standards have improved and few Catalan youths would be interested in a 6a walk. Those more mature want to add to their years without undue risk.
c. There is a tradition it seems in Catalunya of not recording first free ascents. The main record is typically the first ascent however much aid was used. Most of the classic routes in Catalunya were done with a lot of aid, now most are free. Quite often it is uncertain if a route or pitch was really freed or graded correctly. If you are not claiming a FFA quite easy to have it said you freed the route, or would have if you went back another day, even if you actually dogged a section or two. In perspective Cenotaph Corner was originally aided, 2 pitons, and no-one knows who did the FFA; Left Wall, Great Wall also, etc; no waiting for better climbers. Aid elimination is a natural development everywhere.
d. Ego: the only people who care are envious. Without ego how do you get up every day?
e. I would like to think this is not the reason, though could be final straw. Catalans would hope to preserve parts of Montserrat for Catalans
f. This seems to be the standard high grade practise nowadays. Impossible without. Either you do, or it does not get done. Bottom up onsight is the ideal. But impossible on overhanging, dodgy rock with no natural placements. No waiting for better climbers.