question is why is there a like function at all? It shouldn't be there cause I can relate with the circumstances mention by OP.
The thing about likes is that it's supposed to be given to people that are actually helpful, but as as you've established; people just trade for them which nullify their purpose.
The main reason this should be removed is that this type of system makes it so that most of the people that ARE NOT credible are given titles/badges that they absolutely DO NOT deserve.
If you've been online for awhile and have seen glimpses of the chats in Lunar Halo Inn it should already be clear to most how insignificant the like function is.
It's almost as if we encourage toxic and narcissistic people to be active on there, which is completely detrimental to the image of the community in general, if we want to retain and get the most mileage out of newbies and returnees, this is a start. Let's stop giving these toxic and unhelpful players a way of getting recognition by removing this.
The only way this system can ever work if it's evaluated and moderated, otherwise it's just misleading.
me too :(