@ Fat tire (regardless of shodokan's post)

Numbers might have lost value due to all the manipulation and the mmr screw up in the early cata seasons, as well as they might have lost epeen value within the pvp community. But in the end a number now is no different from what it used to be in the past, it's just a number. That's pretty much how the whole achievement system is designed. Once you have obtained a certain number/achievement, it becomes less attractive; as it's no longer a goal. There are still a good bunch of people out there who try to pursue that number goal, and for them it's a milestone when they reach it. That's pretty much the only importance.

Peer pressure and social value are everywhere in WoW, and are basically irrelevant. Back then and now.