With messaging changing throughout the years, it has become more obvious when Niantic accepts nominations that should never have met criteria. Specific examples have included the video department of a Wal-Mart, generic gas stations in populous cities, “Pokémon” terminology in the description, and generic post boxes. Similarly, playgrounds, parks, and trail signage meeting specific eligibility are sometimes rejected. Meanwhile, Wayfarer has allowed many imports into games and its own map that deteriorate the integrity of the database & community ethos in the name of emerging markets playability.
With an perceived lack of quality control and no recourse to deal with bad Niantic votes and imports, why should we (the greater community) care about the quality of our submissions and voting when Niantic so clearly does not? This also creates unnecessary impression that the review community acts as gatekeeping, when often it’s standing by criteria staff doesn’t always uphold or present in clear ways.