That was what I was thinking until in another similar post some one posted a link to cash rewards for top ranked players. Now I don't know if this practice still goes on but for the squeakers this to me would provide a great incentive to game the game.
That was the "Demon Seed" that has grown into the "Score Monster" that we see now. Prior to that, the mention of score(s) was mostly unheard of and meant as little back then, as it does now.
Even tho there is no cash involved anymore, it brought some sort of credence and validity to being #1 ... and now, players will do things that AKAK has pointed out, to get their name on the HTC homepage, thinking that it will bring them some sort of "elite fighter respect" amongst the AH community.
Respect and and being tagged with "elite/good fighter" is acquired through word-of-mouth, not a web page.