Stamper
I assume, perhaps incorrectly, that this is an idea you would like to see applied to the people who respond to photographs put up here for criticism? I can see your line of thought and, basically, I tend to agree with you but I don't really see how it could be implemented without restricting the criticism function to a small clique of other photographers reaching a level of expertise acceptable to the current control system.
As you have probably noticed from past posts, I have little belief in the wisdom or value of the act of seeking such criticism and hardly ever look at that section nor take part, but putting that aside for the moment, I do think that it is of greater value for criticism to be wide open to the world and its sister. That would quickly show the picture poster that not all of the people who are going to have an impact on his/her work - as viewers - know their ass from their elbow, but that that fact will never stop them from holding and expounding their points of view. The status quo, then? That alone might be a lesson worth learning and a price worth paying...
I remember this same argument being aimed at myself some year or so ago in other sections of the forum because of my reluctance to post. It made me feel rather awkward because I wanted to prove my credentials but felt very inhibited in doing so, not because of any doubts about my work (if you have them then how can you be a pro and last for more than a week?), but simply because much of the work was model-related and involved genuine worries about releases, client confidentiality and all manner of business questions that might escape the non-pro. In the end, I took a chance and did post but never allowed the images to remain up beyond the immediate period of interest. (I think - if any still lurk out there, please let me know in order to cancel them!) I can see why other, perfectly capable photographers, might easily have similar reservations about going public with their work.
Overall, I think the current system works well enough for those who feel the need to use those parts of it where criticism is invited. Having said that, I do not agree with other views expressed here that non-practitioners are really qualified to be critics; if anything, isn't that part of the reason that modern ideas of art (let's include photography here) pushed by curators, magazine and newspaper writers have led to the mess that seems to be the current vogue? I believe these groups have their own personal agendas and that that's really where their efforts are aimed: the pushing of their own careers within the art world. Hell, they are just jobs like any other.
Rob C