If factions want to influence a story in some regard, they can post a request. They can also ask story devs whether A or B makes sense or not. I am willing to listen and take players opinions into a consideration, and I am sure that other story devs are willing to do as well if the way of communication is reasonable enough.
Such proposals in order to succeed must, however, fit the setting and the narrative of the NPC factions - for example, LPI won't stop being a private company by just deciding so one day, the Order won't cease hunting aliens because player Order 1iC befriended some nomad faction and so on. Respect the faction you are supposed to be representing.
There is a possibility that something will be denied or not implemented because it stands in a way of another plans. It's disappointing, I know, but if we would be spoiling story several patches ahead, it would be disappointing even more.
For OF s to matter you need a FORMAL and DEFINED system of how they can influence story and how exactly their right to do so differs from non OF s and individuals.
You work on a buddy system now, doesn't matter if someone is OF or not to influence you. "I am willing to listen" is not a system. It provides zero incentive to become OF.
Did you actually try to talk to story and not cook up some conspiracies? I'm pretty sure we already all went through this in the patch thread where you accused Markam of upholding "Devtonia". They're (the story devs) also a lot more open and even if you're not on best terms with i.e. Wesker or Reeves they do take all input and feedback into consideration. In the end, this is a multiplayer roleplay mod, so everything must fit the narrative and as a result not all submissions will go/can go in and become story, otherwise we'd have House Auxesia by now.
What does that have to do with being an OF or not and getting an incentive to becoming OF?