@julian Yea, I'm not lamenting that loss but I liked it, cause I'm odd that way, but conventions eh.
However now that you said that, I was thinking most normal users or the rally 99.9% of a userbase, would never be selecting posts in the first instance (usually) only Mods or Admins would have to encounter the outside-convention approach of the past.
I still like / prefer the idea of being in a active mod role or not. Such a clear UI delineation of being in active mod role with mod powers versus just browsing is a nice feedback touch, when things are busy.
As an idea-example, when in a mods-tools-activated-mode, the post listing (or post) might get a obvious grey outline (or overlay to make it dull but legible, monochrome even) and when selected this might change to a brighten up to normal or get a stronger colour outline, red or bright blue, yellow.
So scrolling up and down all the sleeted post are visually clear and strong to the mod/admin.
Each listing is like selecting as if it's an entire card.
Modding in the past on other platforms was always a precarious endeavour, and when ti went wrong, oh dear, as much as checkbox is old school thinking in terms of UI, i may work but consider the above if it's deemed useful.