Well Madmax, there is no accounting for peoples taste or preferences for art styles or anything else in life. Some peoples garbage is someone elses treasures. Art is a very individual and personal experience. But I understand where youre coming from and sometimes its even blatantly obvious who is scratching whos back and who is reciprocating purely for personal gains and selfish reasons. These people are not helping anyone, least of all, themselves but there is very little that can be done about it short of holding a kangaroo court. It is strange when a piece of work which took just a couple hours to complete makes the Hot20 list and a piece which may have taken weeks only gets a ranking of great or excellent and few comments, but that is the way art is. Sometimes the simplest manipulation of composition and color can evoke the greatest of emotions from the viewer. I could not, in all honesty, take anything away from such an artist merely because his simple approach generated more reviews than my rendition, which might have taken weeks to complete. It might well be that quality that sets his art apart from mine and makes it different. Just because I dont agree with his approach doesnt mean his art is any less than mine, or that my art is any better than his. Art is art. It just is! And the old clichholds true again; Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (even if that eye has a stick in it). Making the Hot20 list is a great feeling. I know because I once made it for about two days, went up to position 13 then declined but what a mind trip it was. I was completely ecstatic. As it turned out, it was my first entry into that forum gallery as well as my last. And you know what? Who knew and who cares? Its a forgotten episode. Only I know and can savor and appreciate the moment. But its great to know that it wasnt because I had lined up a bunch of my cronies and had them vote for me. I know in my heart that my hard work had finally paid off. All I can say to you, is be patient, your turn will come. And, dont take on so much of the worlds problems, there are way too many of them and it will only stress you out. Kick back, sip a tea or a cola and do some Bryce.