The way I see it, the post count is a reflection of your growth and maturity as a person and member here. When you start out as a new member/apprentice you don't know much and are like a child needing to be feed and cared for by the community. After enough time is spent doing research, studying, reading, talking and listening to others you then reach the point where you have knowledge to contribute. Eventually, if you stick with this stuff long enough you reach maturity/journeyman status and you become a valuable resource for knowledge and information. Post count is just a reflection of that growth and maturity.