how do you become a mod?

You don't, only special and trusted people with good programming capabilities do get chosen.

This topic is not "how to be a moderator" or "Why can't we all be moderators"
Not knowing when the next update is or how it is going adds to the suspense.
If there was a development bar, I would get very disappointed if it were delayed. So I think it is in most of our interests if there were no development bar, as it is not a certain fact when it is going to come out.