Mentor needs to mean something again

[Canadane]

I doubt people actually go up to mentor for advice.

People ask questions in Novice Network all the time.
Rarely does anyone physically go up to another player character for interactions beyond a trade.

I think about this a lot, especially as a relatively new player to this game. Why are commendations able to be given to anyone, even if they do not contribute anything in terms of communication? Seems like most people get commendations based purely on playing a tank or healer class (not that I don't think that merits some form of recognition in certain types of content). Is there no way to program something in that opts for a commendation to be given to someone if say, for example, they wrote something into chat?

But then again, maybe I am just assuming the commendation is for good communication and not taking into account actual performance.

Commendations are for whatever you want, there's no guidance to them provided. Comm the tank/healer for allowing you into the place. Comm the DPS that actually does their rotation. Comm the tank that steals the LB at the last moment because the DPS was just going to waste it as a finisher anyway. Comm the one that actually says "Hello!" and "Have a nice day!" in your dungeon even though no actual communication is needed as everyone has been there 800 times already.
The power is yours. This is also why it's not really a good measure of competency but more of compliancy.

Someone mentioned earlier that they had 5000 commendations but can still be toxic to other players regardless of a mentor badge or not.

I'm 99% sure you misunderstood their point. It's in the eyes of others they are toxic only because of the crown.