Good point. I went through and removed several inactive moderators from various boards. Thanks!
It is a good decision to remove moderators who have been inactive for a long time.
And another thing to consider is to appoint new moderators every year through a voting system, excluding inactive moderators. This can improve the performance of users on this forum in many ways. And if those who work very hard for this forum get the responsibility of moderators of this forum, so the forum experience will be even better.
It would be in the best place for Theymos to appoint capable hands and minds that fit the position, as he knows better the qualities, expertise, and experience of the candidate that best suits the moderator position as the administrator of this great platform. I do not think voting for the appointment of a moderator would be a good idea, as it would turn political and possibly cause a divide amongst members, as sensitive as it is.
If anyone wants to become a moderator, he/she can tender their application then Theymos can access them by also looking at the reports they made to moderators because i learnt that if you make good reports to moderators, you can have a high chance of becoming one in the future so the administrator cannot just make appointments, what if he appoints someone and the person isn't willing to take the job despite that a payment is attached to it? As for approving a moderator via a voting process, it doesn't make any sense because just like you said, it will become bias, political and probably someone that is incompetent might be voted in.