Eliminate the post counts and write a complex script that parses each thread for "usefulness", using an algorithm that loosely follows:
1. +1 point for naming config files
2. +2 points for "Thank you user_name" following a post
3. +1 point for mentioning the word "kernel"
4. +1 point for the words "There are many ways to solve the problem in *nix"
5. -1 point for more than one emoticon
6. -2 points for posts shorter than four words
7. -1 point for posts where the quote appears below the response
Ok!
Seriously, post count really doesn't mean much. One could have 30 very insightful posts, while another could have 800 posts that consist of "What do I do now?" and "Winblows sucks" and "I agree".