GamerScore Whoring

Is the Gamer Score evil? Well, according to the Pope, probably (see news on front pageof 2o2p). But according to gamers? Maybe. There seem to be two major schools of thought:

1. Gamer Score is a way of increasing playability and an easy way to reward gamers who go the extra mile. It's a way of seeing if you can meet challenges in a game and encouraging friendly competition in friends.

2. Gamer Score is just a big "whip it out" contest that favors those with too much time and too much money and no life. It has no bearing on life or if you are a "real" gamer, it's just a nonsense number that often favors Timmys and no-life losers.

There is also a third opinion, that can in no way be called a "school of thought":

3. OMFG!!one!! You're score is s0 low cuz your teh suxx0rs and Im the l33t r0xx3rz . Bow to m3 newb.

( Apologies to those who can actually understand this )

My opinion? I like it. It offers me:

1. Real goals in games beyond beating the game. I think I get my extra $10 out of 360 games just in having Achievements. It makes want to play a little bit more.
2. A way for me to see where I am against other players. Not just a "whip it out" measure, but a way to say "No wonder I got schooled by him in GoW, his score in GoW is 6 time mine, he's obviously played it a lot more than me."
3. A guide when looking for help. If I'm stuck on a certain point, I can scroll through my FL and look for someone who has already whipped a game and send them a note like "How the hell do I beat the Beserker when Dom just stands there waiting to get killed?" (Easy answer: do it in co-op.)
4. Friendly competition. I can look at my friends around the country and say "Dang, he's killing me on Oblivion, I need to catch up." This helps me stay in contact with old friends I don't see anymore, as well as new ones I meet here.
5. A little rush. Yes, I am an achievement junkie. Who doesn't get a tingle when they see this?

Best things that could be done to improve the system?

1. Balancing. This is already happening. Look at achievement lists (such as this site) and compare current games such as GoW or R6:Vegas to initial games such as Burnout Revenge or King Kong.
2. Realistic online achievements.  I understand why achievements are in ranked matches, but make it easirt to play FAIR ranked matches with people I don't hate.
3. Don't break the mood. I love seeing that little icon, but sometimes it snaps me out of an immersive experience and reminds me that it's just a game. Be smart about when that pop-up happens. Don't interrupt important scenes with a pop-up, no matter how loved (I'm looking at you GoW and Oblivion).
4. Drop the Arcade Demos. We all know why they are on there, so once you try a game, if you don't buy it, you automatically leave 200 points unfulfilled. That stinks, just let us drop them. I hated Joust for XBLA, even though I loved the original, why punish my already pitiful score with another sandbag?