The present ranking method is bogus
I have 27 years experience as a technician with an AS in Electronics, who has spent most of that time in proprietary embedded processors. Yet, I am immediately ranked as a 'Novice' in the microcontroller section when answering a question about the PIC? How's that again??!!
Yes, I don't think the moderators should spend their every waking moment scanning the threads and assigning ranking on their personal weighing methods. However, two methods come to mind that would help determine ranks more realistically:
1. Offer a questionnaire for the willing to fill out and use that to assign ranking, optionally in different categories (electronics, engineering, whatever...)
and/or 2. add a clickable box that allows people to rank a response in a thread. Perhaps some boxes going from 1 to 5, where 1 is tops. As members with good, concise answers get higher 'grades' with this system, their ranking actually takes on a realistic value based on peer review.
End Two Cents,
kenjj