@flying-poopla
Guess I just don't see it that way. I've never bothered to even check the commendations. For me, they've just been something that happens naturally as I play the game.
I've had play sessions where I'm on for two or three hours and through bad luck or personal stupidity have ended up making zero progress. But that didn't bother me because I had fun playing, and having fun is the main objective for me.
The idea that I would do something I didn't find fun just to get the commendation is a rather foreign one, personally. And if you DID have fun doing it; well then, at least you still had fun, right?
I said before, I can understand a little frustration. I've played games where this kind of thing has happened before, so I can get the "really, guys?" attitude. What I really don't get is the "BETRAYAL! PARTICIPATION TROPHIES! HORRID CASUALS! SOCIETY IS CRUMBLING! GAME OVER, MAN! GAME OVER!!!" And all over a wacky, cartoon pirate game. Commendations always reminded me of that old t-shirt joke anyway. Y'know, "I spent months grinding forts in SoT, and all I got was this stupid shirt".
With Dark Souls bringing back the idea, the super challenging game has made a big comeback recently, but not every game needs that level of punishment. Especially like here, where it's not really about skill; more just how much time you have to slog it out. People thought the commendations were a bit steep and Rare apparently ended up agreeing. Annoying for those doing the heavy grinding, sure; but hardly the end of western civilization as we know it.
I'm fine with some frustrated venting, but this level of bitterness and ire seems a might childish.