Any chance we can get this topic moved to the new
OOTP Commissioner's Corner forum?
I'll admit that I'm too novice to be able to definitively say that participation point systems work. I can only say that it's been my experience so far that our system has been a positive influence on our owners. Beyond posting and writing articles, owners are getting points for things like contributing art and graphs, bringing on new owners, participating in special events (like our upcoming PEBA college hoops tourney bracket), etc. I believe there'd still be these kinds of contributions without the system, but I think the extra incentive provides extra effort.
Of course we'll have to see how things are going after a few years before I can say for certain whether the system is a success or not, but for now I feel very good about it.