[Ryan]

or just do it on a case-by-case basis depending on what the admins agree is most appropriate given how much the server has changed since they were last staff, how they did as staff, how they're getting along in the community, etc.

I think this would create too much personal bias from the admin team to incentivize denying people that they don't like even if the community supports them or vice versa

I think that in practice reina's idea would involve the person applying for the higher rank and then the admin team decided if they should accept them at that rank or if they need to start lower. At this point of the community, I dont see a massive hurt for staff that would require anyone to bypass the application system.