I think the problem with "regular users" acting as mods is that it's very VERY rarely done politely. Many a time have I or others been talking general in room four (naughty, I know. But at least I admit it :p ) and regular users, instead of asking us to move rooms, said things more along the lines of "OMFG will you people **** off to another room? THIS ROOM IS FOR SUPPORT". The scary thing is that I'm not even exaggerating. lol
Just wanted to say that I think this goes both ways, because the number of times I have seen members getting shouted to by the regulars of the general rooms to 'STOP USING TEXT TYPE' or even the constant correcting them everytime they do use text type - I personally would find that very rude and condescending. I know I for one will always whisper the person using text type and say something along the lines of 'Just so you know, text type is actually against the rules and people tend to get pretty worked up about it so could you please try not to use it'. This seems to work a lot better rather than openly shouting at them in main chat which always leads to an arguement about why is it against the rules, and blah blah.
On a side note, as with this part, there seems to be some form of unofficial hierarchy of members, for that say, that some members have issues from some members telling them what to do, but would accept it from others.
I agree with you here and I know that before I was modded there were people I would have listened to and people I wouldn't have listened to with regards to following the rules (not that this ever happened cos I'm super-duper 100% perfect never broken a rule in my life). But I think that is more because the people I would listen to are my friends, whereas unless I was in a good mood (which if I was breaking rules I wouldn't be) then I wouldn't listen to a stranger or someone I don't like... But I'm the same in real life, I think thats just part of human nature.