I dunno. I only just started uploading content about a month ago. Before then, I very rarely frequented forums, so I had no friends. Yet, most of the items I have uploaded have been given 5 stars. The only thing I can think of is that people were just happy to see the kind of things I had uploaded, as they are very hard to find for Aiko and Hiro (I know! I've looked! That's why I neded up making these things in the first palce!).

I think people tend to be more critical of content that is more plentiful, is my theory. For example, there is a wealth of content for Victoria 3 and 4. The level of variety in that content is just as stunning. Because there is so much content available, people can afford to be more critical, and, boy, can they be harsh if they deem another freebie to be far superior to a similar freebie! On the other hand, finding free armor pieces for Aiko, let alone Hiro (poor guy; artists on a tight budget must be forced to do nude character studies for Hiro) is very difficult. When someone finally puts out an even half-way decent set, people are just too plain happy to be overly critical.

Other than just plain cheating or the friends theory on the part of some uploaders, that's the only other reason I can think of for some of the odd ratings I see. Unless the uploading artist somehow managed to insult someone somewhere in the past?