I prefer the metaphor of the monastery. It promotes RESPECT and acceptance. Having a pecking order among the initiate is part of forming a society and driving education. It is important. Allowing people to graduate from that and become an 'accepted' core community member is a meaningful exercise. Prolonging the experience IMHO cheapens that and encourages elitism.

Is one Doctor more of a Doctor because she writes more articles? Because he treats more patients? Because they achieved more than one doctorate degree?

I apologize for dragging anyone's name into a conversation as an example. I have great respect for Erudil and all of the other monks my senior in XP, Perl know-how, or accumulated time since becoming a member. Merlyn doesn't need a fancier title for all of us to know about his contribution.

Clearly I'm in the minority of opinion here. Part of why I bothered to post my opinion at all was simply to add to the diversity displayed. I don't expect things to go back. Neither am I persuaded that this is a better way. There was a time when XP whoring was considered passe'. That time, I think has passed. It will come again. All Good Things...and so on...