Perhaps a text field to enter a reason for frontpaging a node would be in order?

I concur. If we're going to list the names of who frontpaged what, it's reasonable to let them explain why they did it.

Update: I don't necessarily want every frontpaged node to be rigorously justified, boo_radley, but when someone frontpages a node that isn't obviously worthy, it'd be useful to give them a chance to explain their decision. (And NTC gets its share of empty considers, too.) Just a thought.
End Update

On the issue of frontpaging too much, I'd only frontpage one every couple days or so. If a node is worthy. someone else will most likely frontpage it.

I think I've frontpaged one node since reaching Friar. Usually, the impressive nodes have been frontpaged before I get to them.

Update 2: It occurs to me that I don't frontpage nodes mostly because I hang out at Newest Nodes instead of The Monastery Gates, and forget all about this "front page" thing.

Another criterion that I use when deciding whether or not to frontpage something is: "How will this reflect on Perl Monks?" The Monastery Gates is (probably) the first exposure a visitor will have to the site, so I think it's reasonable to exert a bit more editorial criticism when deciding what to put there. (For instance, Juerd's recent comment on a not-so-Friendly home node impressed me, displayed well, and was of above-average overall quality, but I didn't frontpage it -- we don't need to advertise our internal disputes to the rest of the world.) This strikes me as a fairly obvious point, but it should be mentioned.

--
:wq