TOPIC:

Is there a way to create an unpublished event through email?
Ideally I would like to have staff without web access send email about events that would create an unpublished event. Once notified, web admins could edit and publish the event.

Any way to do this at all?

Hi, welcome on this forum where users try to help other users. (Meanwhile it's time for holidays, this means answer can endure long time.
No this is not possible. You can set a contact to a staff person, which will get the email and has to enter the event manually into the eventmanager.
I think you know, that the eventcreator must not have access to the backend.