Since they are added to xbox live achievements and gamerscore have become both an important selling point and a big part of peoples lives. 
They have effected how you play, its more then just an experiance, its also how to get some extra points. They have helped more people play and complete more games, but at the same time have they made the experiance so different then it had been that now we dont notice the experiance at all.
 
Before being good or bad in a game was an important reflection of the experiance you wanted as a gamer. Now people play a bit of everything to get a good number of points.
 
Another key question is do they really matter or add to a game.
 
The biggest problem is the connection of gamerscore to achievements. 
In my personal view gamerscore does not make sence and has no place in the games we play. One game could give you 5 points for killing a bunny and 100 points for completeing the game. But another could give you the same amount of points for all its achievements no matter what they are.
 
This is illogical. Its not a representation of skill or effort.
 
Achievements themselves on the other hand, they do make sence. Remove the score from the deal and all are just simple picture rewards. But not everyone has the smae pictures. They are closer to a fair representation of  skill based awards then gamerscore.
 
I wonder why on xbox live at least they are limited to just games. Why not have them for xbox live it self. 
 
For example you get 1 for having 1 friend, 5 friends, 20 friends, 50 friends 75 friends and so on....
For downloading 5 demos you get an achievement
For dressing your avatar - achievement
For being a member for a year - achievement.
 
 
Its a thought anyway.
 
So anyone elce have any views on this, or am i just going over old ground...
 
OOOOOh i wonder if ill get a quest out of this.
 
- robin smith