Despite sincere efforts to improve the rating system, the announced changes have been derided by almost everyone. Though I'm confident that the Lindens will eventually implement an ideal system, perhaps what is needed is a private rating system to temporarily bridge the gap.
I don't think it would be terribly difficult to produce an attached device which would allow players to submit ratings to a central database, for a modest fee (comparable to the prior fees). That money could then be distributed to players according to some scheme. Technologically, this is well within the grasp of an intrepid coder. Various ratings proposals have been posted, and debated. In the end, I think the only impediments to such a system would be user acceptance and (potential) TOS restrictions.
What do you think? A privately run rating system: good or bad?
(Note that I have no interest in personally implementing such an idea. I merely think that the users should strive to supplement Linden provided tools when those tools are found to be lacking.)