FHHuber, you just made the salient point about standing rules. They are easier to implement and circumvent the normal process. They are a mechanism to bypass the process when it is not thought they would fly otherwise. For that reason there should be a time limit on standing rules. If by the end of that period enough people are not convinced of their value to make a change in the bylaws, then they are probably bad and should be dropped.
And in my opinion, the Leader Member idea is broken. Why should I have to fill out another form or get several people to vouch for me in order to vote on the governing rules of the organization or to run for office. I've already filled out a form when I joined. The Leader Member designation just seems to create another class of membership.