I found Fuz and Alfio answers most helpful.
The two terms (sysop and admin) are used interchangeably in the Wikipedia user space. They both mean someone who as gone through [[Wikipedia:Requests_for_adminship]] successfully, and can delete and protect pages, and block IPs/names.
-Andrew (User:Fuzheado)
I found that "admin" is easier to understand, since it's related to similar non-wikipedia terms. Ironically "sysop" is a more accurate description of the job, which is often limited to maintenance: the term "administrator" suggets some power over the other users, while in reality a sysop is just providing services to the others, and accepting responsability for what he/she does.
Alfio
I think that whatever the name used to described the admin role (ie, admin, sysop or moderator), we should insist that wikipedia is open to anyone. I think that no editor, whatever his status, have more rights than other
* in term of editing rights (eg, right to decide whether an article is accurate, or neutral) * in term of meta participation (eg, right to decide which categories should be created, or to decide how the main page should look) * in term of community building (eg, to decide rules for banning)
I believe there should be equality between sysops and non sysops, on all projects. Sysops should only be at the service of the other editors. Not decide for others, but apply decisions taken by all editors.
It does not matter which name we use. The sysops should not have power over other users other than applying decisions made by all users.