Moderators haven't touched this post, as I explained above, and there's no manipulation going on - it's just normal cycle-of-life stuff: some users think this post should be on the front page while others think it should not be. This is also the reason why your comment's score is fluctuating: some users agree with / like it, and others don't.

I know that sinister speculation is more exciting than unglamorous usualness, but the tedious truth is that we don't do any of the things you're talking about. We don't want to, it wouldn't feel good, and luckily for us, none of it is necessary.