Objective tests for math and science are a baseline requirement; I wasn't arguing otherwise. So we agree on the value of that. But I think we need to go further

Objective tests for math and science are a baseline requirement; I wasn't arguing otherwise. So we agree on the value of that. But I think we need to go further than only measuring people based on these academic standards. If you look at my original list of activities (which included the idea of overcoming a personal challenge), a lot of them are not as easily faked as with your rewrite. Moreover, references can be required. I took on a variety of extra roles in high school because I wanted to be well-rounded. I admit that part of my motivation was to improve my resume, but if that's what it took to get me out there, I'm glad for it, because I learned a lot and grew as a person. In the particular case you mention, I'd think that there was a societal value-add from your rewrite of that girl's essay if you got her into a school where she will do better than whoever would have taken her place, had you not been involved.