Rob
Is there any reason why the site doesn't accept voluntary donations from private users like a number of other discussion forum sites?
As you say many of us who frequent PPRuNe readily pay for commercial flight related publications and get less useful info and assistance from them than from this site.
As a PPL(H) I would happily donate for what I've gained from PPRuNe and I'd hope many professional pilots would too, especially if it allowed you to roll out the better functionality that you describe.
Please moderate away and do what you must to keep the net's best site going.
Ian.