Maybe a more minor detail:
I would call that pointification. Some games are pointified, but not all games.
I do not see badges being cakes given in a ceremony.
Some days ago I was surprised by being notified for receiving this 6 badges for my contribution last year.
They mean nothing to me. I already KNOW that I have participated heavily here.
I never thought about how to win them. Until that very point I did not knew that they existed.
Each was also granted to 4 other people. Nearly always the same people (6-8 different). The people I saw being most active.
At best this.
Even more than badges (which I only see when I look at someones profile) I dislike the leaderboard.
I set it to Year and was not surprised see the same people which got the same badges.