I personally judge reputation exactly the same way as I do with people offline - their behaviour and interactions with others and me over time. I don't pay a lot of attention to the reputation number next to someone's account name. That's a starting place, but really only tells you that they've posted a lot, they've been voted a lot and, as other commenters have said, there are a range of motivations about why people vote for them. Conversely, a low reputation on an older account might only tell you they've fallen out with someone - or someone has fallen out with them.
There are tools you can use to help inform your judgement nd check a new-to-you account, but I would be much more keen to encourage accounts to grow relationships online slowly and with care.
That's exactly what reputation actually is. However, that estimation people we respect accord someone might influence us, at least until we have some familiarity with them ourselves, and can form our own judgement. In that sense a reputation score from someone besides us has some small utility.
I agree, it's a starting place.
I guess where I'm going with this is the following abstract idea:
"Imagine we had a reputation score that reflected the right behaviors. A fitting evolution of hivebuzz if you (gamification). Simple to understand, maybe difficult to implement (to be expected)- setting the tone for a culture of a kind."
I understand.