I left my last board for this very reason: They created an Us and Them mentality. There were posting "cliques" dominated by members who had been there since the boards inception. There was even one member whose posts was considered above reproach. They were the "Us". New members either fell in line with a "clique" fast or they were either ignored or ridiculed and negged into the red pretty quick. It was like fcukin' High School all over.
It is my opinion that making lists of "Good" posters will unduly influence the new members to not challenge them for their posts. If it were up to me, no one would have a join date or post count or rep points. That would force people to read the post rather than just look at the poster and make a judgement that way. I think a thread was started on that very subject a few weeks ago.
It's enough to divide USMB posters into Left and Right mentalities, let's not extend it to include a hierarchy.
And no, I'm not just whining because I wasn't on the list.