horiz0n.....Brad [Frogboy], when setting up this site wanted to engender a sense of community involvement via the tiered levels of 'ranking' from Visitor/Citizen to Admin/Moderator, with steps/levels in between, and, [shock-horror] it tends to work.
Brad has had many years of Net experience to draw upon, using a similar format.....where responsibility/influence upon the workings and success of the site increase through tried and true methods such as time, experience and reputation.
When the concept was first mooted there was significant opposition relating to thoughts of prejudice/discrimination which, by and large has NOT been the case....not when the whole process is akin to the saying about "Big fleas have little fleas, on their backs to bite them....etc".
Ultimately each person will reach his/her level.....commensurate with their degree of involvement/ambition/devotion to the site and its community and success...