User blog comment:4th Hale/Annoying Characters/@comment-4061640-20110501185347/@comment-2047157-20110503025753

It's to encourage users to contribute to the wiki as a reward for their 'hard work'. But the badges are of no value and the leaderboards are purely cosmetic. I say get rid of the whole thing altogether. Not only badge cheaters will have nothing to cheat for, maintaining the wiki to pristine condition will be far easier.