One other point you brought up was about coding...There is nothing stopping a heroimm from coding beyond having a mentor (which really boils down to myself, Seb & Nep) and submitting your code through them.

The problem tends to be time, and having to teach the ins and outs of the functions (which to use where, what are you trying to do, etc). I think I got to write half, if not more, of the progs for the Talshidar Caves as a 51.

If you've got coding background, chances are you'll be given more of a shot to do this, than if you have none at all and want to learn.