[ihsw]

The problem is people are using it as a signal for measuring someone's worth.

There are so many other signals -- learning new programming languages, fixing broken tests, creating awesome new features, cleaning up crufty API libraries, and so forth -- but GitHub isn't showing them on profile pages.

Clearly there is a desire for such signals as people are either 1) using it to elevate one's perceived stature 2) using it to measure other people's perceived stature.

Personally I think this is an opportunity for GitHub to obviate such a signal, one that accurately measures someone's quality of work.

[emodendroket]

I don't think "obviate" is the right word here, nor do I know how you would measure those other things programmatically.