Honestly, I seen too many of these rep systems on forums being used as contests for "I have more rep than you, so hahaha, you fail." Even I'll admit that I was tempted to see the number of green squares I had go up (it was three back when the rep system was abolished.
) And while it might not have been widespread on AS, I'm pretty sure stuff like this DID exist.
I don't really see THAT much of a difference either way now it's gone...the same people talk, and anyone caught posting stupid shit gets quickly criticized anyways.