I see the ranks as more of a how-long--you've-been-here thing, y'know? But really I've never thought of the forums being like that >_> And I go there all the time.
I don't care much for ranks...If they're good, they're good. End of. A good writer has nothing to do with wheather or not they update every ten seconds.
I've noticed some people do this on the boards. I wish I could say I haven't, but I find myself doing it as well. I think anyone who has a Cliche Catastrophe or higher ranking has done it a time or two since they got the ranking. I've got a ranking of Fanfic Fanatic on the boards. I don't know why I do it. honestly. I just do it without thinking I'm pretty well known around the boards and I've just posted a lot on this site. But really, I think everyone looks down upon the lower ranks when they get higher ranks.