all they do is go around stalking users and harassing them with their specific interpretation of the rules while the mob stands by and throws gas on the fire.
Yes, its a pretty much good explanation of what is happening. Everyone trying to put other users down and also some skilled once get effected by this.
Either the trust system ratings are primarily for trade or they aren't. If they aren't then it is just a meaningless joke of a popularity contest that will only serve as cover for con artists to use perpetually to rip people off because they can just keep buying/hacking accounts.
Without trade there is no risk. Without risk there is no trust. Without trust it ceases to be a gauge of who is trustworthy and serves only as a system of nepotism and might making right.
I think a highly positive trusted account should be the most traded one. If you know
minerjones is the most trusted for now and it simply points to the fact that the trust system is mostly used for trade related feedback and it should be use for the same reason. I don't support the use of trust system to suppress someone or show that how good you are in spotting the spam it should rather indicate a person's trustworthyness for business.