Blunt is always good, no need to apologize. Obtuse is always bad, no way to apologize.
DMOZ works however users want it to work. That's what the "Open" means: anyone is free to create new uses for it.
The search engines place whatever value/weight on the ODP they wish; and can change that weight whenever they wish (and apparently they have changed over the years!) Google Directory obviously comes directly (if not immediately) from the Open Directory.
The editors don't pay much attention to this: our attitude is the exact opposite of the SEO professional: "build character, and let reputation follow as it will." How, and how closely, reputation follows character, would not be major concerns even if they were knowable, which they usually aren't.
Most search engines that use ODP descriptions honor the NOODP meta-tag (Google for this!), so you're in control of that aspect of ODP use.