I notice I seem to get more commendations when I'm lazy or make a mistake, rather than when I'm doing the very best I can and sometimes save a run when everyone else is dead (as dps, as in, mch/brd kiting boss and killing it or blm and keeping tank up with physick until boss dies).

Not even joking, about a year? ago, I was lvling whm and one whole dungeon all I did was regen (low lvl so cures not really needed) and decided to be lazy. Got 3 commendations.
Kept tank and other dps alive spamming physick as blm because healer died at 50% and we kill the boss? Zero commendations

I guess the lesson is, if you want commendations, you have to suck and be lazy, rather than play the best you can lol