As for the amount of rewards, SE has vastly underestimated the amount of North American interest before, why should this be the same? Also, the award was meant to hold some prestige. The number was larger for the European contest because the amount of countries involved is much larger. The lack of EU entries may lie in the fact that you were required to THINK for the EU contest, instead of just take a picture that took a minimal amount of thinking and planning.

So I think I understand the situation just fine, and I think all the ignorant, childish whining should cease while we wait for the community team to either respond, or choose not to. I wouldn't be surprised if they choose not to hold any further events, the way this awful community has responded to something that was, at its core, meant to be FUN and bring people together.