I'd agree on killing the AP system..

The AP system was origionaly designed to judge people not on the number of posts they made, but on the quality of their posts..
Most other boards only have ranks based on numbers of posts, the AP system on AO was/is an experiment to see how far self-moderation in a community can be automated..
Unfortunately some members (seniors) have abused the system in the past and possibly even today people are abusing the system..

An AP is an expression of value to a post.. This expression is personal and that's why some people don't like it..

Some people abuse it to vent their personal rage toward a person.. those people could be eliminated (banned).. This has worked in the past.. so why not..

Well OK let's abbandon the AP system.. and get a dictatorship here instead of a democracy..