The regular users also wrote articles on how to properly critique for n00bs to read, gave in depth criticisms to pieces, and put thought and effort into what they did outside of the community thread. Users do have input on who becomes mod actually, if everyone in the forum protests a mod, things do happen. See: Eric, LR. It's not up to you to decide whether or not they do get a say, it's up to Jim whether or not to hear their voices. Don't assume they have no input, they do, Jim makes the final call, but the forum users also talk to Jim and so through that they get their say.