Benefits of having "trusted / high quality" user recognition

I agree about not automating this process. I also agree about popularity contests, thanks Piotrus. So the admins surveying these users themselves have to be pretty much beyond reproach. Perhaps a pivotal point in quality control is how Wikipedia "approves" and trusts editors? Perhaps another pivotal point is the actual "structure" of this process? I apologize if what I am saying is obvious and derived from all of your statements -- I am trying to get us to bullet points that become more cohesive as we work.