Question Unable to set OP level below 4?

I can't seem to get minecraft to invoke an OP level below 4. Irregardless of what i put in the server.properties file, the server will allows grant full access if a player is op.

I have the PEX plugin installed, have toggled with both the config.yml "allowOps" option and the permission file (shown below) where I tried different variants (using both vanilla/bukkit versions, with and without quotes) of enabling op-type commands. Strangely, the '*' global permission works but nothing else other than that does.
groups:
Guest:
options:
default: 'true'
prefix: Player
permissions:
- cp.tp.tphere
- cp.tp.tp
- multiworld.basic
- modifyworld.*
admin:
permissions:
- bukkit.command.op.give
- bukkit.command.op.take
- minecraft.command.op.give
- 'minecraft.command.op.give'
schema-version: 1
users:
6e6c2fc7-31fb-37dd-94dd-3b7dbec8d850:
group:
- admin
options:
name: Carene
worlds:
kl:
inheritance:
- world
world_nether:
inheritance:
- world
world_the_end:
inheritance:
- world


When I login with the character, none of the permissions stick and I always get denied.

Anyone knows of a fix? Or if there's a way to manually enter the OP permissions in PEX? (assuming I entered them right)