It’s a good news that SQL Server 2005 comes with a fixed database role replmonitor to allow non-admin staff (developers etc) to view the Replication Monitor.
To set it up:
1. CREATE USER username in the distribution database
2. Assign replmonitor database role to the username
Your developers etc should be able to check out the status of replication now – feels good to empower someone sometimes, doesn’t it? 
