> Serious question: what motivation was there?

Curiosity, what else? It was for a few weeks, I get curious about many things.

Points to me is a light positive signal that they are "a part of HN". I've seen a similar effect as you with many low point HN commenters. So I don't see low point as a negative sign, but high points definitely as a light positive sign (i.e. you can assume they read the guidelines, etc.).