User one, BogdanX!

Q1: What is it like being the top user on the site?
BogdanX: Top user in rank. Points do not reflect skill. I am more into quality than quantity. Points kinda mean nothing to me.
Q2: What was your building journey like?
BogdanX: Easy at start, I was able to build and post a replica in 3-4 days. Now, my standards went to the roof, so it takes more. And I am more lazy too. Funny is that testing and tweaking a build takes more than construction
Q3: What is your opinion on where simpleplanes is going?
BogdanX: SimplePlanes is becoming superficial and shallow. Users are no longer interested in quality, only to advertise their "products". Fancy presentations, photoshoped thumbnails to promote builds that are inferior. Plane looks fantastic in photos and a pain when you fly it. Same for challenges, hosts are too lazy to make a simple pixel art of a concept build and post a cockpit with a photo. For me is so stupid that a one single part build gets a ton of upvotes.
Q3:What are your tips for other builders?
BogdanX: Research, listen and learn from criticism, don't hide your planes issues under blurr and Photoshop. Also, before starting a build, be sue you can finish it. Investigate the plane and evaluate the construction difficulty. Also, always ask for testing from other people before you post it
Last question, what parts do you think should be added to the game to make better replicas?
BogdanX: 1. Ok, tracks are too complex, but a basic track section will do nice, so users will no longer punish those flattened wheels 🙂 2. Also an upgraded dummy pilot. With the glass parts, a lot of people are making interiors. 3. An instrument/gadget template. A circular display, with some clock markings, with a rotator in the middle. This way interiors will no longer take a million parts. 4. An updated jet engine with the exhaust nozzles doing the right thing (closing on throttle, opening on AfterBurner). Better yet, with an editable input for those nozzles. 5. That half or quarter hollow fuselage, but i don't have too much hopes about it.

Next user, EternalDarkness!

Q1: How did it feel when it was announced you were a moderator of the site?
EternalDarkness: It felt great. It's something I've been working towards for years, and my goal from the start. I already had all the point badges, from white to platinum, but I still wanted the unobtainable red badge.
Q2: What was your building journey like?
EternalDarkness: Oh. It all happened over the course of half a decade. Each build better than the last. I don't think there were ever any giant leaps in quality. I was getting more and more upvotes per build until I reached gold, then I got stuck for a bit until my quality improved enough for people to start liking my builds again, and I have reached platinum in three months. I have kept improving to this day, and the response to my builds has kept improving at the same pace.
Q3: What is your opinion on where the community is going with all of this drama that is going around?
EternalDarkness: The drama has been going on since before I joined. Difference is, there are many more moderators now and moderators are closer to the community. That means drama gets handled quickly and efficiently, often off the site. It's not half as bad as it used to be.
Q4: what is your opinion about the hate towards moderators that has been going around?
EternalDarkness: That issue has been resolved. As it turns out, it was all just a misunderstanding. Another moderator and I contacted the "haters", had a chat with them, and now we're all friends. This community is actually far more friendly towards moderators than most communities I've seen.
Final question: What are your tips for other users, in terms of building?
EternalDarkness: Always try to make your next build better than your previous one. Learn new techniques, see how others do it, experiment... Also, keep your repertoire diverse. Don't build only one kind of thing.

Next user, Belugasub!

Q1 What is it like being on the front page? Do you think points transfer to skill?
Belugasub: 1. fat meme my guy,
2. Points transfer to your ability to market the build or whatever I think its pretty obvious that its not a sign of "skill"
Challenges are a pretty good way to milk some easy points and they are generally fun as well for both sides. Boggy boy for some reason puts effort into them? idk why that defeats the purpose as a quick point grab but oh well.
Anyway yea its not a sign of skill but it does not mean nothing either, not gonna get into a full analysis or whatever.
Q2: Where do you think the community is going with all the drama that has been going around?
Belugasub: Oh man I love it, so much cringe its loads of fun. my most recent "drama" was the whole Ger*an Corsair thing which was amazing (except for people like astroidbook who made versions of it literally worse than the original). They get old real fast tho so its unfunny when it gets dragged out for months.

Overall I just enjoy seeing it, what IS annoying is people saying things such as StOp ThE dRaMa GuYs like dude just embrace it
Q3: What was your building journey like?
Belugasub: fels good maaannn, not much to say

Next user, Spefyjerbf!

Q1: What is it like being on the first page?
Spef: To be honest, I don't really have any definite emotions about being on the front page (of users) specifically. I am quite proud, though, of how I have built my profile. My more recent builds have given me valuable opportunities to expand my building skills, as well as my technical skills with Funky Trees code. I suppose that having a certain amount of points and followers gives me a little bit of extra creative freedom without worrying too much about a build being noticed, though.
Q2: What is it like having the instant comment upvote logic? I also should note that at this time some random dude just walked past my house (live in the country) so yeah
Spef: Lmao hopefully he's just passing by, and yeah no worries. As for comment upvote logic, it's kinda funny tbh. When I find a drama post, or something that simply annoys me, I'll comment something completely unrelated. It is either copypasta, something less effortful (deez nutz), or some passage from some highly technical writing (I copy/pasted some stuff about Taylor blast waves, astrodynamics, etc.). Kinda just shitposty behavior on my part, but I think its fun. When its actually a forum post that isn't spammy, I'll comment something useful though.
Q3: What are some tips for upcoming builders?
Spef: Good question. My general advice is to not let uploading get in the way of your enjoyment of SP. I've seen too many great designers burn themselves out by trying to keep a frequent uploading schedule. If you do not know what to build, and/or feel uninspired, then wait for inspiration to come while you enjoy your non-SP hobbies! SP is a game, after all, and none of us (except the devs) get paid by it. I think something we need to normalize as a community is taking healthy breaks.
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As a secondary note, I do not mean that people should go through huge periods of inactivity, like me lol. Just don't grind for points too much - that WILL burn you out.

If you are a user above 100k points and see this, I want to interview you, my discord is Default4#0531.