I think the reputation points are very bad, and can cause a fuss, or maybe unwanted angst towards other members, because they are "more popular" was the word you used, which i do0nt think is fare.
On bandaids they are not used to see whos "popular" but of a way of giving gratitude, and the people who have the most obviously put most into the site, saying if someone is "popular" is actually kind of ridicolous.