Hi, jay.
I think you have put your finger smack on it.
This is a recovery site with lots and lots of posters who tried to moderate their drinking, and couldn't.
Abstinence is the solution for many active posters.
If someone can successfully moderate, and I believe they are out there, they likely would bypass this site for one that is more in line with their thinking and behavior.
For my part, I tried for years to moderate my drinking with no successs.
In the end, it just became easier to not drink at all.
I have investigated moderationn management but have no experience with harm reduction, so really can't speak to whether they are effective programs.
Good luck on your journey.