Personally I use the stars as a kind of bookmarking system, rather than purely a like system, given they reside and are searchable in the starred section of one

Personally I use the stars as a kind of bookmarking system, rather than purely a like system, given they reside and are searchable in the starred section of one's profile. I'll link a project to others if I find it useful. If I've created something I usually appreciate written praise/thanks from users and peers more but I also understand how even little gestures can make a difference.