I feel awkward about bumping this, but I'd like to add my own opinion.
I agree about the contests getting out of control and more or less turning Res into a who-is-more-popular-than-who site (perhaps not completely, but it seems likely to happen) and then likely a lot of fighting and arguing from some of the more immature users when they aren't chosen.
As for the staff... when I was on it Fizz did do a 'staff of the month' game to get us to step up our activity. But otherwise, I don't think we need a site-wide update about so-and-so being better than the other staff. All of the staff on Res, writers, artists, support etc., work hard to make Res the best it can be. It would just be awkward.
But I do think (and slightly agreeing with Graveyard here) that giving more notice to the behind the scene staff would be awesome. I do realize that Res has their own standard style of art, but putting a name on who did it would be fun to know and even give us a chance to congratulate the actual artist. For any big writing pieces, acknowledgement would be the same.
Peace off,
Det