The problem with this suggestion that it's not possible to set up due to limited customization. Either it's opt in, or out for everyone.
And yet it is for Tigg? I don't think so necessarily. I can /see/ the karma option, but it seems to have stayed at a constant rate throughout the times she's been back. Always 0.
I think this may be like it is on other forums, where staff are allowed to alter the karma of users, and perhaps there's an 0 stuck in there that's meant to stay. So, maybe it is possible to alter, but with the amount of users, could be troublesome to do so?
Regardless of what's causing it, it seems possible based on this user's karma count. How is another thing.
And I somewhat agree on purpose by sock. Ego stroking. I think that's a good definition. Of course, it /could/ represent how helpful a user is and the like, how they're viewed, but likewise, has its negatives. Because the karma option can be used more for just biting people over things such as bad statements or opinions people don't agree on. It could be completely biased based on previous induced statements, or an opinion of a person.
Think there could be some other kind of system on a user's "helpfulness" but I've no suggestions to what it could be.
Regardless, I don't really care if it stays or goes.