The Novice Network

[Midare]

Regardless of the requirements, people would grind them at least for the status symbol they perceive the BK crown has, and not because they wish to be helpful or because it supposedly proves they know what they're doing.
Thing is, no matter what, I doubt anything would change for one simple reason: In NA and EU, the whole concept of being a competent, nurturing guiding individual, to those still learning the ropes is not as common as it is for the concept of Kohai/Senpai.
SE can try some things I imagine, but I don't know how much they could do while the cultura difference just renders the entire mentor system an absolute joke in the West.

[tsuchii]

I personally never got into the Novice Network. Gotten my Astrope (been a mentor a long time), I've never really gotten any advice nor given advice/information on the NN that is not available on Google. Save yourself the annoyance from the occasional snark and circle jerk and just use Google.

As for the mentor system, the amount of sprouts I've taught and assisted in ARR extremes and Rathalos EX, they're not something taken for granted. If there's no mentor system, those sprouts will match with each other on duty finder and frankly will not clear.

I think the fifteen hundred commendations is already a good indicator that the player has played quite the amount of duties in the game and an indicator of experience with normal content. Mentors cannot be expected to know all high end duties nor expected to help all the time. We're just like every other player enjoying our time at our own paces, and sometimes would help when available.