@saswat036, you can run for ref too, my understanding is anyone at any level can run
refs are not little overlords on here, hate to break it to everyone that refs work for the community not the other way around. Like @patrickulrich stated there is a discord where you can report what you see as abuse.

Anyone can run for ref regardless of being stake based . I'm not a fan of this system as I've stated but that's what the leadership decides so it is what it is. Also, if you feel things are being downvoted unfairly or too harshly I'd bring that up too in there.
Oh, and every 2 weeks this process gets to be repeated, can't wait to see the politics on this but seeing some get angry and some reward wars already starting, it basically gets people to buy more or stake more then buy more to buy and keep their slot. So it's good for business right? O.o
;)