People like this are actually the best ones to have running such a project. For them it’s not just a pet-project to pass time, or a small way to show their skills. It’s a necessary step for them, to be able to keep their online presence.
You’d be surprised at how effective people can be, when they’re doing something out of spite.
Even “user-provided awards” should be kept out. It provides nothing substantial to the conversation.
It’s like saying “This 👆”, “I agree”, or “Take my upvote!”, all of which can be expressed by simply voting on the comment, which actually has an impact.