I understand what you are saying, but I do have a problem with saying that I am lucky.
I rated tons of games. I had put up a thread even before the rating started that offeree people to just post the game there and I will rate it. But it wasn't a rate for rate. Most people ignored my request that they also take the time to check my game.
I used all the time I had for like 3 days straight to rate games and give lots of feedback.
So please don't say that I am lucky to have 23 ratings since I have worked hard to rate other people's games and if anything, needing to ask people to rate my game so that I can pass 20 ratings after spending so much time on ratings shows how much the rating system has broken this community. People aren't willing to play each other's game unless they get something in return. We are so caught up in making that rating number go up that we lost our ability to enjoy games. And what is the point in playing games, if you don't enjoy it?
The problem is not with the length of time, it is with itch. With the rating system. Why isn't karma the default? Not that anyone browses games. I am not sure what itch can do about it but I do know that ludom dare doesn't have this problem, or at least didn't have it.
Sorry if this reply is a bit... Not nice? I just had to get this off my chest.