While I do agree that an "open" game may make people raise their game ..they also may also be overwhelmed by very experienced players and just coast... if the big names aren't there they will have to participate more.
And I certainly wasn't suggesting that the rules should change ..or that the roles should be given patronising names. I just think that this is a game where experience does count. I think that games played rather than length of time would be a factor.... Also maybe divided games should be alternated with "open" ones.
If there is a continual demand for space.. the division of parralel games might be "short format" / " long format" . Not everyone can commit to a 20 bod game .
Since moderating is a lot of work, I would emphasise that the moderator should retain control over the kind of game they want to run. But that shouldn't really be affected by whether the game is palyed by tenderfoots or old hands. Mind you I seem to be the only mod who works to the beat of a different drum so maybe I am just talking for myself. A return to Midsommer Mawlin will involve retractable votes and the mythomaniac
and will not involve Shirriffs..