No, I was never a Reddit mod. My first modding experience is at sh.itjust.works. I was making a analogy, which I'll admit was a bit strained, but I stand by it. The analogy was not intended to imply that Reddit mods were the equivalent of surgeons, it was intended to compare a set of specialists to another set of specialists and what happens when an organization forces generalists (above-mentioned theater kids) into the tasks of specialists. Things always enshittify. All of the mods I've interacted with in Lemmy instances and on Reddit have been specialists, in terms of professional, ethical management of content and an exceptional ability to manage "soft" power. I have no motive to flatter any mod anywhere, this is what I've observed. If you don't agree with the observation, fair enough, but those types of mods are characteristic of the communities in which I choose to spend time. Your mileage may vary, but if you find mods to be otherwise, I would question your chosen community first, as the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. A wise man used to say to me, "If you look around and every room you're in is full of assholes, it's you. You're the asshole."