The only way to properly get barriers is via /give (Builders+ command). In my perspective it can cause multiple counts of trolling (which is against our server rules).
Yes, I suggest upgrading to 1.8. Creative, Jigsaw, periodically hub, SG, UHC, I assume Factions.
Also, if you can't connect to hub in a 1.7 client to expect getting full access. The server is soon fully updating to 1.8.
Yes, but staff do not overdue it. They are educated with commands and if they crash creative they know they have a consequence to pay :)
Some Mocking Jay donors are not educated properly and may be under-aged and they do random commands. We are not going to take any chances.
No, staff don't use world edit as much as you think. Only 2 staff members are active in creative (Icy and myself) and we do not use /sphere. We use voxel sniper.
Yes, I disagree. Sorry Mocking Jay's, but with the limitation of 1,000 and a sphere size of 3 it was still catastrophic. If Zainos does decide to bring back powerful worldedit commands expect major limitation such as, 1-3 radius only, solid blocks only, etc.