If one accepts that the points are meaningless, they lose their value as a motivational tool, which could compromise a person's goals. There's also the guilt f

If one accepts that the points are meaningless, they lose their value as a motivational tool, which could compromise a person's goals. There's also the guilt factor, where the meter says "you must be THIS active to be serious about your goals", so disappointing the meter means (supposedly) you've fallen short on something that matters to you. Framing it as "back to square one" doesn't help.