Here’s my 2 cents (it’s political, but politics is everywhere🤷):

You may want to take a look at The Narrow Corridor, or at least read the first few chapters.

One point that struck me was that you need someone with enough power to keep everyone else in check, like what @MentalEdge@ani.social does.

Otherwise, the more powerful players would simply oppress everyone else.

When it comes to examples,

off-topic; politics

you don’t even have to turn to history. Just look at what is going on in USA now. Without a strong government to keep the rich and powerful in check, they can simply bring the government under their control instead. Now, they have even more power to oppress weak players.

Ideally, you’d want to share power - usually through democracy - so that the people can prevent the state from going rogue, even after you are long gone. But if you do so prematurely, you may find yourself in the above situation.

I know ani.social is just an inconsequential weeb community, but these principles of governance applies here too.

IMO you and other mods are doing well. Until the time is right (perhaps when Lemmy becomes mainstream?), I’d say: just be a BDFL - Benevolent dictator for life