I dunno where you got this information but it is entirely incorrect. The requirements for trust 3 are in the sticky at the top of the forum. It doesn’t involve moderators at all. In fact, it is entirely automated. When you reach the requirements you are given the ability to post links/pictures/videos and post in the lounge forum, and if you fall behind on activity or get actioned it is automatically removed.
You don’t get it from catching the eye of moderators or posting popular threads. And if you look at the OP in the thread you linked, they clearly met the requirements for trust 3 in the first place, so there would be no need for moderator intervention even if that were a thing.