I don't really disagree with the point system being unfair but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say "broken" either. I think the karma system could work a lot

I don't really disagree with the point system being unfair but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say "broken" either. I think the karma system could work a lot better but it does do what it's intended which is to separate those who are dedicated to the community from those who are just fly-by trolls. I think that was all it was ever intended to do and in that sense it works well enough. I think it's an important distinction because it reflects on what would happen when it gets "fixed". For example comments by those who just submit stories would be treated no differently than someone who just came on the site today. But I'd argue that someone who has a couple thousand submit points behind them cares quite a bit about the community and if they felt inspired to comment on something after never having commented before I'd consider that comment of the utmost importance. So while the karma system is flawed it's not broken. It's just the most basic implementation of it's intent which is to reward people who have contributed to the community with status for having done so.