SJS’s idea is exactly what I had mind. Perhaps there can be more than one system in place. For example, some users will have to wait for moderation, or only some won’t. This can be decided on by a little icon at each post that everyone can vote. Other forums have such a system in place to give someone credit as a good poster. (I’m refering to programming forums. I don’t read non-frum blogs.)
This can be along side a word filter and a report button.