Ok, I've read this whole thread now, some posts even 3 times, to make sure I get them, so I think it is time for me to say my ideas about this:
First, I am just being honest now, I am not doing this because i want a higher rank, I just want to show you my opinions about this.
About engineers:
Yes, engineer is, or must be, the rank that is the hardest to get. When you are builder / cool / guest, you can just build something, the worst thing you can do is griefing, then you will be banned, end of the story. But when you are an engi, you can kick someone, so you can really (how do I say this?) attack/harm/offend somebody. Also, when you are an engi, I think you have to do some things, you have a real duty then. You have to help keeping the server clean.
About builders:
They are not the rank with the most people. They are not the rank with the most privileges. They are (mostly, and yes, there are exceptions) not the most idolized rank. But they may be the most important rank. I mean, the most times when there is a revert, it is because a guest said it (or a builder found it), a builder checked it and they report it to an engi+. And yes, there are loads of builders just trying to archieve engineer rank, by helping admins all day. Some of you are overreacting at that. Yes, they are begging for a higher rank, some way. But of course they want to become an engi or higher. I mean, why not? They will get responsibility, they will get duties, but they are allready helping all day. They will get more privileges, a place to build in Main, and, (don't forget this one, i think it is an important one,) they will be more respected.
Somebody, I don't know who it was, said something about that we, builders, are doing the job from the cools, like helping guests with water, lava, etc. But I don't think so. When I became cool, I was like; "Well, I'm a cool now. I know how it feels to have to ask for water and lava (I hated that), so i am going to help guests out with that." But it isn't easy to help others when you are a cool. The most important thing is finding the other person. As a builder you just tp there, place some blocks and that's it. As a cool, it can take 10+ minutes to find the person. So we, builders, arent 'doing what cools are supposed to do', we are doing what we can do the best.
There are also builders, like me, who want to have a higher rank, but don't do it that way. Now i'm speaking for more builders, and i don't know if they all think the same way, but I just build, and yes, i help admins too, but not every day, the whole time. I usually start with checking if there are many grief cases, if no, i just go building. And somedays, when the server is crowded, or i just dont know what to build, or, well, why not?, I help admins.
And i know i will not be promoted soon if i do this, but it is just the way i enjoy this awesome game the most. Yes, i would love to become engineer, but if not, it doesn't matter. I'm just having fun here, and i think more people should do that. Just have fun people!
Last note: My english isn't good, I know, I hope you just get what I want to say. If not, tell me, I will try to explain it better.