Robert - I'm sure you'll be excited to hear that as part of my masters in mechanical engineering, I'm taking Advanced Engineering Data Analysis and Experimental Design (read: Advanced Stats). Now we can have stat chats on the site.
Use both numbers and words. I've been doing it in my recent Orlando trip report.
I'm lookin' at YOU Rao!
Anyway, I like the rating system currently in place, however there is nothing you can do to fix the issue of bad voters... I mean is Primeval Whirl really a 7? When someone asks, how was Primeval Whirl do you answer "it was a good ride!" or do you say something more along the lines of "what a piece of uninspired midway sh--!" and hit the person asking? And are the Kiddie Swings at Kennywood really worthy of a 10? I am gonna go out on a limb and say "I don't think so."
As long as the system in place requires voters to register, log in, and rate an attraction (once only), and accounts for the guys who put 10's on everything (Jake Rivers, you know who you are - or do you?), then I think you have done about as good a job as you can do. Sorry, Robert, there is just no way to fix the bad voters issue 100% of the time.
But to be honest, thinking about it for a while, what's the difference between a number and a word, if they pretty much mean the same thing?
How about a new rating called Jungle Snooze to represent those attractions that are pathetic, dilapidated, and obsolete.
I like it!
Ok...I have a an idea to help with voting. It utilizes both numbers and words. You would still have to have a 0-10 vote, but then you would describe in a sentence or two why you voted that way. It could be set up to where it's an open box (just like the one i'm typing in now) and state your reasoning, or we can set it up to where we'll ask for you A) pros, B) cons, and C) Describe it in one word. This way we can make it easy to see which votes are true votes and not just (Hey! Go to this site and vote a 10 for such and such a ride!) And if it is, we can throw out the vote. But this system would allow people to vote a 0 or a 10, but only if their reasoning is sound.
Ok here's some examples of possible votes. Both of these will be for Expedition Everest:
Example 1:
Vote: 8
Reasoning: I love the themeing of this attraction from the time you enter the queue to the time you leave the gift shop. The ride itself is fun (the backwards section was a surprise) and the turn at the bottom of the big hill was a blast. However, I feel that the ride could be a little longer and I wish that the Yeti was more reliable.
Here's another way you can do it:
Example 2:
Vote: 8
Pros: Great themeing throughout the ride, fun elements of the ride, backwards section was surprising and fun, yeti is cool (when it works)
Cons: Ride could be a little longer, yeti could be more reliable
One-word description: Awesome
Now it could use some hammering it out but I'd thought I throw it out on the table