There is always a focus on quality not just at election time, SE is supposed to be a repository of high quality Q&A.

>Perhaps I am missing some relevant history.

Yes, lots, most if not all of it is here on meta. It boils down to

- SF is largely a river of crappy questions easily answered if the OP would be bothered to read some documentation or even search the site first.

- The people with rep are bored with answering easy questions over and over again because people find it easier to ask a crappy question rather than educate themselves by reading the documentation or searching the site.

- Talented people who have lots to offer leave because of the crappy questions and the site is poorer because of it.

- New talent comes through the gates, get involved but quickly leave because of the river of crappy questions. It is my impression that fewer talented people hang about to even get to 3k.

- The river of crap keeps flowing.

- The rest is history, acrimony and where we came in.