[Paul M]

Originally Posted by Erwin

The number of installs is enough.

Not really. There is no perfect system to rate a hack, each has its problems.

The number of installs can depend on how specialised the hack is (and how old it is). It cannot cope with one person having multiple installs if they have multiple forums. New members of vb.org often don't use it, because they don't know about it. Other people simply forget. Some people click install yet never use the hack.

The ratings is a very underused system - 5/10/15 stars will make no difference - few people will ever use it (most hacks have never been rated).

HOTM - is an what I call an "of the moment" popularity contest. A hack can, by your measure of installs, be very popular, yet never get close to being a HOTM - while a winner of it can be abandoned or forgotton just a few months after it was "the best thing since sliced bread".

Each has it's merits, but none is suitable for all.