“And that’s the thing: The community. You do not spend several years modding a subreddit without getting to know the people and having some sort of relationship with them. The community is not an abstract, it’s people you get to know - often over several years - and that’s not something you want to leave behind.”

Who is asking them to leave it all behind?

The only way you can be part of a community is by being a mod?

If mods are feeling as wronged by Reddit as how they say they feel, why not resign as a mod and just join the community as a member?

I mean you would still be part of the community you say they hold so dear but in a different capacity.