I'm not sure how this can still be a purely theoretical discussion where people question how it can happen. It has and does already happen. These same discussions happened before the WHFB rankings and the end result is a preponderance of those lists which are recognised to be superior, and a great many games where you are playing versus a position on a ladder, not an opponent.
There is a very real example that has been in play for a number of years now. To assume that people that play malifaux are somehow magically above developing the overly-competative urges as other games systems have suffered from seems to be somewhat naive. I question why rankings is necessary in the first place Everyone that has joined the game has done so for the game, they enjoy the models, the mechanics, the fluff. We can all agree on liking the game. Just the discussion of rankings has shown there to be a deep division in opinion, so rather than making the community more cohesive it adds divisions where there were none.
I do not want to have to register my discontent with rankings at each event I go to, sounding like the broken record, so I'd choose not to go to them, and opt for the more relaxed options. The only issue with this that some people seem to be missing is that organisers want the maximum people to attend. They know from current trends that ranked events always draw more attendance. Non ranked events are usually ignored by people in search of their three perfect scores or whatever benchmark has been set. As an objector to the fait accompli, I will have a more limited range to attend. Its easy to say that there will be a plethora of such events now, but who is to run them? The same arguments were used for Warhammer, and now I should think there are few established events that don't hand over results to RHQ.
WM/H does not have individual rankings and yet the game is the fastest growing one I have seen for many years. To suggest that having individual rankings would help this game cannot yet be proven, but the evidence is there for all to see for a game that does not have them. WM/H lists events on RHQ, and has a list of the top factions by wins, and casters within those factions. That is interesting data I have no issue with, and would happily see Malifaux receive the same treatment.
This is an argument for the middle ground only. The very competative types that already exist will do what they have to whatever happens, as people say. The people who like to paint and muck around, the same. This isn't about them, and to harp on about this point is a bit of a straw man. Its about the middle ground, people who may well be tempted to score those three perfect events as put forward in the first post. The assumption is they will score them quickly and then revert to a more fun list. This assumption in itself implicitly recognises that the three perfect scores are less fun. A worrying belief when mentioned alongside the benefits of such a system. What happens if through lack of familiarity, luck or skill, such a person turns up to events and somehow doesnt get a score they are happy with? Will such people still take those 3 results, or will they persist bringing the powerful list until such time as skill/luck gives them something they are happier with? Thats the real issue, and the thing that kills fantasy as a competative game. The middling sort keep on coming back with the same min-maxed lists, and in ever greater number. Each persobn that gets whacked by the shannigans has a breaking point - how long before they too decide that they don't want to fork out cash to come to these events to get beaten horribly? Or worse, that they will fight fire with fire? I haven't had the opportunity to come to many events yet, but the ones I have attended have had a decent mix of masters. I don't want to see ones skewed towards the Hamelins, Pandoras etc.
I fully recognise that people are doing this for good reasons, they want to help the game. I have nothing personal against such efforts, in fact I applaud the hard work and thought that goes into the - I just believe that they will do more harm than good.
I have made my thoughts clear enough over two posts, so I doubt I will be chiming in again. If anyone wants to discuss this further with me, you can message me, though I expect you will already know my opinion.