Post count would be a horrendous idea because we've had trouble with it in the past.
Back before the Great Crash of 2007 we had a post count display and actually had ranks based on post count (the ranks were similar to those of an actual army). However, we had people who were making trivial or irrelevant posts simply to increase their post count and rank. This is actually why we now have custom profile pictures--back then your picture was determined by the number of posts one had made.
On the other forums I'm a part of the post count does exist and ranks are assigned based on post count on some of them. It has never been a problem for those forums but then again most of them are larger communities where information is valued more highly than a sense of community. Community comes with its set of problems, as we have definitely figured out lately on this forum, but it does make for a better overall experience.
Back before the Great Crash of 2007 we had a post count display and actually had ranks based on post count (the ranks were similar to those of an actual army). However, we had people who were making trivial or irrelevant posts simply to increase their post count and rank. This is actually why we now have custom profile pictures--back then your picture was determined by the number of posts one had made.
On the other forums I'm a part of the post count does exist and ranks are assigned based on post count on some of them. It has never been a problem for those forums but then again most of them are larger communities where information is valued more highly than a sense of community. Community comes with its set of problems, as we have definitely figured out lately on this forum, but it does make for a better overall experience.