Responding to what I can actually speak to:
-I'm not feeling pressure from FD. I'm not employed by them, I'm a volunteer. If they pressured me I'd just stop doing this. I don't need a second job. They expect mods to help enforce the rules as they see fit and if we do not execute that responsibility to their linking they find someone who will. That brings up the question: 'why do I do this?' I love this community and like to think through my volunteering as a mod I'm giving back in a small way by helping keep this forum a nice place for everyone to hang out. I'm also giving back to Frontier for helping to create something that gives me a lot of joy. I don't do it to feel superior or to lord over other posters. If a mod starts doing that they're not going to be a mod for long. FDev won't tolerate little forum dictators angering their customers.
-Threads being hastily 'moved, locked for anonymous reasons' : If you have concerns with how the mods handle rule enforcement there is a procedure for letting FDev know. It's in the rules thread here on the forum.
-'alarming level of infractions being dished out across the board' : I'd very much like to know what data you have to back that up, as infraction counts are not public information.
I actually have friends that frequent these forums as much or more than I do, I have their empirical data.
also, I have appropriately contacted Brett C. on the actions Ive questioned
-cuddos on the bown-nose reply btw, particularly charming read (pleasant first encounter with you specifically).