At 10:52 AM 1/15/2009, John Rodgers wrote...
>  It there any real need to move up to a :"Moderated" level now?

Well, there are those who top-post, and consequently quote multiple
levels of prior posts, with no effect other than to consume bandwidth
and storage.

I have no problem with off-topic posts, provided they are given a
proper subject line, so they can be filtered, either by a participant's
email agent, or by the list server itself.

LISTSERV, the software currently running this list, supports such, as
"TOPICS." The list could be configured to support an "NVC:" topic,
which those not wishing to receive off topic posts could ignore to
remove themselves from the cruft:

http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8d/user/user.html#2.8a
http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8d/owner/owner.html#5.3.11

There is a default topic, "other:" which otherwise unspecified posts go
to, and which might be used for on topic posts, so those who stick to
the charter need not specially tag their messages. This could allow
separating NVC from on-topic posts. Using topics in this way might
require some active participation of subscribers when they sign up.
This would only work for participants who receive individual emails -
digest subscribers always receive all posts.