IMO, awards are a great motivator, and warranted recognition for earned acheivement. I know I always wanted to win, even in Novice (now Sportsman)
However, I don't think we should keep awarding/rewarding folks who don't comply with the advancement rules. Here's what they are for Sportsman, from the Comp. Rules & Regs.:

8.2.A contestant should advance through the classes as follows: A contestantshould move out of the Sportsman class at the end of the calendar year ofhis/her second or subsequent year of participation if he/she places first orsecond and above at least 4 other contestants (having recorded an officialflight) in any sanctioned pattern contest.

Like most of AMA's regs, advancement rules are worded poorly, and should be re-hashed. But they're there for a reason. There are a lot of guys that just won't move up; fine, if you're not taking first places and championships away from those abiding by the rules. That's a CD/Comp. Board issue, but one lacking attention.
But I digress.....