My own Steemit badges and counts are still in the realm of pennies and nickels and I'm fine with that. In time my numbers will grow and if not, well then that's on me.
Ya know, I use to think those badges that players could earn on video games (I know Playstation at least does this) were worthless because, well that's all they were, nothing more than an indication of how far someone went on a video game. But, what I neglected to understand, was that to those games, those represented an achievement that they aspired to get to. the badges might not have been for me but to them, it was a victory.
I guess that same goes with these Steemit badges too. I enjoy receiving a one because that means I am doing something on this platform which I enjoy.
Te badges can be used i various ways and as much as i dislike gamification of life, for many it is thonly way they will end up moving forward. We like to achieve and progress, even if what we do is meaningless.