This conversation goes on every time with contests using a community vote here at Renderosity. And very rarely in my humble opinion do the best win. The reason is that people do vote for thier friends and I even remember when people some time ago here (un-named of course to protect my wallet:) would trade votes. Cliques and of course near nude pictures will always win out it seems so why bother entering?? I ask myself that question every time I enter a contest in this site and yet every once in a while I do it anyway. Masochism maybe??:) I truly believe that the only way for a contest of this type to be honestly judged is by a panel of chosen judges from start to finish. They then would give thier reasons on why they chose the top winners. Most of the examples in the links in the first post here certainly (and I mean no dis-respect for the artistic qualities of the current top 25) if judged on artistic merit alone should be in the top 25 (again only my humble observation). I am sure some here will say that I am being a poor sport but really every one of the ones in the above list beats the hell out of my entries and I am being truthful about that plus I wish I could do as good a work as some of them (envy:).