Just download it and try building and testing in your home dir.
If the modules test OK, then take that info to your admins and see if they'll install it for you.
If the admins won't install the module(s?) globally, then just install it in your home directory and run it from there.
There's always a way, pretty much.
As far as the bug reports go, I would take this as a good sign! Looks to me like this module has a solid group of users that care about the module and how it works.
Peruse the bugs, if they don't look like they affect your usage of the module, then move forward and test.
All software has bugs. Rejoice! In this case you actually know about some of them!

Update: Addressing bug concerns.