Michael,

The ultimate objective of rating in my view is -
1. To encourage the responder for sending a right /appropriate answer.
2. To Rate the answer on its quality and other prefer to see the rated question. Who else can rate better other than the one who submitted the question. Because he / she is one whose problem get solved(?) by the answer.
3. Yes!!! I suggest to the creator of forum to form a group of experts in forum itself and this forum should do the extra ordinary efforts to see that all questions are replied and satisfication lavel is achieved.

regards,

Santulan