Instead of waiting for 4 years, OP could have created a new account and worked way up to Legendary, while also contributing to the forum by creating posts or topics (which would be useful to the BTC-community). I think this would have been the best way to atone for OP mistakes: having come a long way from the very beginning and putting himself out there for the benefit of the forum (you'll have to be creative here).
Just waiting for a long time is not the most rational use of time.
As far as I know, creating a second account is not prohibited. So why not take advantage of this chance? Of course, if the ban (reason) of the first account doesn't limit the second account in any way.
I literally screamed while reading this recommendation from m2017. This has shown that not everyone knows how things work in the forum. The other day I read where a Hero member was asking if campaign managers design signatures themselves or something related. The forum is really large and it is only good if everyone pick their area of interest and contribution.
Anyone that is permanently banned is not permitted to return to the forum with another account. Although many people do not keep to this rule but in one way or the other, they are still caught.