Oh, this is a hot button topic.... actually you hit a couple hot button topics. My pastor and I have this conversation often, he's even used it in sermons. You didn't win so, what exactly did you do that deserves a trophy. You show up for work, between breaks, checking your FB, talking, lunch, more socializing, you actually work 4 hours, get paid for 8, barely even try when you are working and think you deserve a raise......
I'm not even going to start on no child left behind. We've had some knock-down drag-outs with a school system over that.
I think that one of biggest issues with "participation awards" is that people assume that a person's self-esteem should be or is tied to a result. At least that's what it seems to teach. Honestly, you shouldn't feel bad when you lose as long as you gave it everything you had. Work harder, prepare better, learn something, let it motivate you to do better.
Nice! Glad to hear that you understand all that. Poor world it's becoming for us people!