[Alfa1]

I can certainly relate to your problems. I had a developer code functionality to resolve the issues and to improve the usefulness of the reputation system.
The problems you describe are inevitable with the default reputation functionality, simply because moderation functions for reputation are completely absent.

Here's what I added:
- A reputation moderation queue, with advanced moderation features. (reason for rating deletion automatically sent)
- Report reputation ratings, with moderator functions in the report.
- An UI that makes rating just as easy as the likes system.
- Show reputation stars & comments under posts
- Reputation trade detector.
- Turn reputation spread off for staff
- supermods can edit approved rep
- members can retract rep within 5 minutes
- reputation on member profile

I also added reputation rules, so that everyone knows exactly what can not be in ratings.
All usergroup promotions are based or intertwined with reputation and reputation - post ratio. I also added functions in admincp relating to this.

This has completely resolved the issues we had on my big board, and has greatly increased the number of ratings per month. It has also greatly increased post quality and keeps thanks messages out of posts.