Here is the original entry in the HLP FAQ...
How can I get an avatar/custom title?
In the Forums, you’ll notice that particular people have special titles and even pictures underneath their names when they post. These pictures are called avatars, and are only given to staffers at websites hosted by HLP. To qualify as a hosted staffer, you must either work on a project already hosted by us, or create your own project and get it approved for hosting by us (more details on the HLP Hosting page). NB. Avatars can be accrued… ie. One person can have more than one avatar, if they work on the appropriate number of projects. Custom titles are earned by merit and distinction - that is (respectively), what you achieve, and what sets you apart from others. For example, Mikhael has the title *404error* because of his excellent work on 404error.com; Venom has the title Model Magician because of his outstanding skill in model creation; Zeronet has the title Hanger Man because of his mad interest in hangers ([sic] - I’m pretty sure it’s spelled hangars, but what the hey). You get the idea; titles are distributed at the discretion of the HLP staff only, and explicitly asking for titles will reduce your chance of ever being awarded one.
(Note that in this particular quote "avatars" refers to what became project badges.)
Custom titles have historically been awarded "for merit and distinction", with the ironic titles reserved for members who tried to jump the queue. Over time, the ironic use of titles grew to overshadow the legitimate use. I think a large part of the dissatisfaction with the title system could be resolved if the staff returned to being more proactive with recognizing merit and distinction.
Similarly, the powers-of-two text represents "member rank" based on the number of posts. This has used a different distribution of ranks throughout HLP's history. It's been powers-of-two for ages, but prior to that it was based on FreeSpace ships... "GTF Apollo" and "GTF Valkyrie" were for members with fewer posts; "GTD Orion and "GTVA Colossus" were for members with higher posts. "GVA Setekh" was the highest rank due to Setekh having by far the largest number of posts on HLP for a number of years. We could change this back to FreeSpace ships, or use the actual FreeSpace rank system, or something different.
As an aside, no matter which way the discussion goes, I still haven't heard a single good argument for why we shouldn't let global moderators have admin powers (with the exception of Goober's "That's how we've always done it" which probably wasn't even about that issue) so unless I hear any objection I'll assume that everyone is okay with giving them avatars and turn that on regardless of where the rest of the discussion goes.
How did you get from avatars and titles to "admin powers"?
Also, dismissing competing views and priorities as "not good arguments" is completely the wrong way to go about having a discussion. You are not the unilateral arbiter of what is and is not good policy.