That's because its not a particularly well designed rep system intended for automated moderation: Rev9 getting permabanned for T&C violations with a full rep bar is testament. If the board was ever actually interested in implementing such a system, have a mod PM me and we'll discuss. I have some background in emergent systems management. It certainly can be done, without much coding, data, or processing; would be quite effective, and would drastically reduce the labor of moderation. Not to mention, a simple yet robust "draconian moderator free" AI moderation system would be good liberty PR; a "novelty" draw to the site and movement.
Simplified, non robust, yet effective moderation:
Right now we collect +1 -1 data on each post and you can only vote once. The collective total is displayed as a "rep bar" and no data is shown (on the board) about rep given to each specific post.
Imagine the possibilities if you collect Likert data (+2 +1 0 -1 -2) for each post on just three scales (for example):
T&C voilations
Pro liberty
Well worded
Every post begins with a 0 rating on all three categories. Current rating (MEAN not total) of each post is graphically displayed below the post count, below a scroll bar Likert rating system which allows users to change their mind. Below the likert scroll bars, graph the mean likert rating for each category (post rep), and below that gaph, is a cumulative collective mean rep graph for the member (member rep).
You can implement thresholds for members verses non members viewing abilities, as well as banning thresholds. You could even produce reports for moderators of posts that are not beneath threshold but close. Further, the sytem could be the one who grants moderator privilidge. The system becomes more robust with additional polling categories as well as mathematical incentives for voting, posting, new threads etc.
<----the short and skinny, inquire within.
presence