Why the FUCK would mods not want to get paid? Here's an idea: pay the mods appropriately except for the ones who want to be hairy potter house elves for some reason dumb reason.
Speaking for myself, I was able to be a part of something greater as a staff member. I had no interest in the money at all. My time as both a moderator and an admin helped me grow significantly as a person, relate my own struggles with disability and gender identity to others, and nourished friendships and relationships that have lasted to this day. While there was definitely conflict and struggle while I was on staff, I still have some incredible, life changing memories. The skills I obtained also carried over into my actual job, once I got into my field too. So in that sense, what I did at Era prepared me for life later on.
Being paid would have changed the dynamics of everything that happened significantly, and wouldn't have necessarily made anything easier or better for me.
I don't regret being a part of staff at all as a volunteer, and I have no reason to be concerned about the ownership update myself.
Being unpaid has been their excuse forever for why it's ridiculous for members to have any sort of expectations of the staff; volunteers sacrificing their health and mental well-being for the good of all!
Super fucking weird to see them go so hard on wanting to preserve the exact mentally tortuous, financially unrewarding environment that's ruined so many.
Honestly cannot wait for the first time MOBA makes a policy decree; there are zero signs the current staff has a reasonable appreciation of their actual importance in the scheme of things. It's going to be such a shitshow, and I fully expect to see them turn on each other.