Since the ranking sytem os based on accumulating points over individual standing, stats, and games won 1v1, ill go ahead and say that the ranking system rewards effort over skill, and that anyone willing to devote six months of their lives to nothing but halo, or two hours a night for a year deserve to be any rank they get.
I will add that people that place special emphasis on ones rank are sad. I regularly get my butt handed to me by spawn campers, warrant officers, and other such players that peole expect to be terrible, but conversely its equally common for myself and others to out class inheritors In most games. I have no problem freely admiting to be a terrible over all player that in the last few months have focussed on commendation farming over game play.
[Edited on 12.15.2011 9:50 AM PST]