There was nothing wrong with cones / barriers / bales being put on the track - those objects weren't on the racing line and didn't ruin anyone's racing (perhaps except that one moment when you had barriers that forced you to enter the pit lane on SO).
So yeah..perhaps next time Dave could just announce if something specific is going to happen / change during a race, otherwise you end up with people being upset for a rather silly reason. Heh, taking public racing that serious these days must be a new META!