Again just using the Karma Mod as an example.
My board is about technology not Orlando Bloom. People who are helpful to others by answering technical questions or just bringing good information to the board deserve Karma in my opinion.
Karma is a default of the
vBulletin software (the kind of message board that
TAZ uses as well as the other board I linked to,
Daniweb). I would have used vBulletin on my board instead of phpBB except that you actually have to buy a liscense for vB and I don't have that kind of money.
I don't think you see the Karma being misused in either of those places just because it is a very different kind of board than TORn is. Tech people will generally not use Karma with someone they disagree with but they will thank someone with it if they have been helpful.
What is my point?
Damn good question. I thought I had one.
I think it is that different types of websites can use the same tools in very different ways based on content and user base.