My main concern is that the system is very flawed and encourages unhealthy habits when playing. It's obvious that nobody is going to get a high score without investing a lot of time into mindlessly crafting or gathering. I wouldn't rule out people cheating which is another issue that complicates things.

I managed to get into the top hundred on Cerberus as a botanist, though only barely. It wasn't an enjoyable experience and I likely won't bother trying again - and when I saw what lengths the top twelve players were going to, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up at all. I was, however, under the impression that a few days after the initial ranking ended a new one would begin.

That seems like the most sensible system to me. The content is temporary anyway, so does it really matter if a larger portion of players walk away with the titles and achievements? I think that'd allow for a healthier community overall.