I don't really know you, so try not to take this the wrong way, but you miss my point like a spoon trying to spear a steak.
Given your argument, I can only conclude that you've lost touch with what it's like to be new & replaced it with what you imagine it's like to be new, colored by the the time you've spent here.
What you appear to be saying is, in essence, "Eff making efforts to try being more noob friendly, because I expect people to use the trial by fire method to learn the ins & outs of the forums in exactly the same way I expect them to learn the mod itself"
Is that the ultimate crux of your post?
If so, in terms of the Mod, I agree w/ ya 110% People should explore & discover the mod as it was intended, but as far as the forums go, I hold the opinion that you're probably talking outta your ass...as to why? I wish I could say for certain. All I can piece together based on what you've replied back to me is that you've lost touch with what it's like to be new here to the extent that you've projected what you've leaned over time onto those that haven't shared the same luxury.
If that's the case, I happen to disagree.
I'd prefer a forums that is as idiot-proof as possible so that people can spend more time learning the mod than learning the forums. One step in the right direction is to bring back the direct & clearly visible link to the server & forum rules on the sidebar as it was in the recent past.
Do you possibly find that an unreasonable request?