Yes people suck up. However if you look at the last few trials that have been hired throughout time, please try and list the ones that they suck up to. A lot of things we as staff don't understand is that, if you are sucking up then the Sr. Staff will notice it. That's why certain people have not gotten when the whole community thought they deserve it.
Anyways, I'd like to put it out there that people do have goals, but want to achieve them in some way. I'll admit it, a goal of mine is to get Sr. Mod. However, besides showing the fact that I am possibly qualified for it, I want to just be myself and show them my true self and show that I'm not fake, and I'm not trying to do anything to get the position over others. I feel like what you say in your post is extremely right, but a few things are missing things.
Also just know, if you feel like someone is extremely sucking up or making a competition about something, just report it to Sr. Staff or just put it in the most recent activity checks like we talked about in the last Mod Meeting.
Love ya Rish