"I suspect that whatever ratings mechanisms develop to fill the void, they would eventually coalesce into a single entity" I know you're speculating, but I don

"I suspect that whatever ratings mechanisms develop to fill the void, they would eventually coalesce into a single entity" I know you're speculating, but I don't think that's realistic. For that to happen, people would have to unanimously agree on a single rating mechanism. As for doctors, their guild gives us a great example of what actually happens when guilds enjoy special legal status. Guilds and professional societies work to restrict entry into their fields, in order to prop up their own salaries. When they do this, they usually claim they are simply ensuring high quality.