George:
Your asking hymn songs of the choir here, at least to me. I admit my many shortcomings all the time. If you read all this - and again I sure don't blame you for not doing so - you'd see I fully admit that at least part of my arguments stem from self-interest, that I enjoy the perks involved in being a rater, that I do it for fun and for access to more golf, that I find many flaws in the system.
I'm just not going to admit something that isn't true. Neither is shivas. And I believe both of us are intelligent enough to understand the mechanics of all of this.
In any case, I'll reiterate my bottom line on this issue: I do believe some raters do let their play effect their assessments. But I'd guess such are in the great minority.
Interesting too in that I'd guess I know most, if not all, of the same people you do, in this rating game. And my take on this stands.
TH