Empress Charlie covered it all by Guild mechanics and Codex.
As all of you probably feel, it would be great to have people in those free high ranks in the guild. Still, I have said it more than once (before I was a high ranked), although not in public (=skypage), and I will now say it here. It's an opinion, so take it as that and no more:
I don't think anyone should play or have more than ONE high rank. We can all guild all our characters. They can even be all knights. They can be (guilded and titled as) kids, crafters, elderly or whatever you want and it is encouraged! very much so! but one person should hold only one high rank and not only to leave it open for others. So, focus on what you want, and go for that!
This refers to specific (named) roles. Centurions and Decurions can be held by few at the same time hence not included in what I just wrote.
Btw: All people mentioned in Charlie's original post hold only one high rank.
And Piper...
a coup?
*thinks*
maybe we'll do a comic coup?
*thinks some more*
*light bulb lights above his head*
I KNOW!
we'll paint all guild houses, items (and aprons) in pink and say we're PGoH - Pink Guardians of Honor. that would be a "nice surprise" to the return of the Emprors!