When I applied there weren't very many staff members in my timezone, let alone survival staff.
I also remember being that new player that knows nothing and no one, so I thought maybe if I become a staff member, I could help people that were in the same position that I was in.
Probably the biggest thing though, I met my closest friends on Mana while responding to reports. If I wasn't a staff member, I might not have met them. Of course when I applied I didn't know this, but after I realised, I was really encouraged to talk to more people and engage with people I normally wouldn't engage with, because they might end up being my best friend months later.
@pestolicious teehee