Other people would reply in the thread too, I just feel it has problems all over it - I do see the point however PMs can be just as if not more friendly.
The post qualitiy on the forum is becoming worse. I come on this forum for the graphics forum and general forum. There aren't any decent posts in the discuss anything section, and the few that are good are just flooded onto older pages by stupid how many... or what is your.... threads. They add nothing, aren't interesting to read and are just generally boring.
I do see the problems it could cause but I believe it would make newer members feel more comfortable.
Judging from some of the infraction PM's I got in the past (excluding a few moderators) I felt like I was being talked down to. At least if its in a thread it wouldn't be as intimidating and as a new user I would feel that I'm on the same level if you will as the moderators.
I'm not suggesting it be done constantly with all rule breaking, just on that induction period for new members.
I check 60% of the PMs that moderators send myself, and most PMs to new users are incredibly friendly, welcoming and polite - talking to the users on the same level as them. The current team of moderators we have really are good at what they do and I wouldn't say any of them are intimidating in their PMs, I understand your concerns though as I have also recieved intimidating contact from moderators in the past however I assure you that this was something we set out to crack down on and I think that has been done reasonably successfully.
I think you should do competitions for non-habbo/forum prizes, such as iTunes vouchers and other things.
Back to the mod things, we want them! give!
I think Mod Tags are a good idea to be discussed further but I don't think they're that along the topic of this thread - I'd suggest someone else starts the thread, probably whoever first mentioned it. Don't want to steal the idea and make the thread myself :P