Well I account for respect on a personal level so the answer is me. Other readers may behave the same way, and they could also feel that respect is something which must be earned.
As for evidence, plenty of research has gone into respect and credibility, particularly as they relate to leadership.
I don't have a problem with curation; Sturgeon's Law goes double for blogs, and I'd be happy to have someone else filter the crap. It's not like it won't find somewhere else to get published or self-hosted. Honestly, the way some people are reacting to this you'd think the government just passed a law that meant if you didn't use Svtble you got the orange overall treatment :)