[nickcharlton]

I think - like most ideas based around rewards the value will be seen in it's worth.

As a silly example; 1000 Twitter followers would not have been valuable in 2006, but in 2009 it holds a value. It's the same with HN ratings.

An issue there is that new users will feel "at the bottom of the pile", and possibly less likely to "rise up the ranks". At least once a project gets going.