The system has power over people who believe in it, and only to the extent or for the purpose they believe in it. Sometimes I read a great post, but interjecting a comment in the thread may be beside the point -- the thread has moved way past that post, or it isn't about attaboys. So I give the poster a rep point, with a comment. It's just between us, nobody else cares, but I liked his point of view.
The system doesn't have to be serious, it doesn't have to be about anything that really affects Bladeforums in a big way, as long as it's about what makes those people happy who choose to participate. On some forums, the guys give each other green chiclets for fun, on some nobody cares the system exists. It doesn't have to be the same thing for everybody.
When you get dinged for no substantial reason, by a wienie who won't sign his name or say why he gotcha, laugh and move on to something you care about.