I've gone back and forth about how I feel about grades as a whole.

I do feel that by having these tests and grades that it does, indeed, sort of become just a transactional way to "vend credentials" instead of focusing on learning. I also think that often homework and tests aren't great measurements; I was bad about doing homework in college the first time around, and it was frustrating to the professors because I was doing horrible grade-wise, but was extremely active during class and generally did fine on the tests. I was mostly learning the material (at least well enough to get an A on the exams), but because I wasn't submitting my assignments, they would be forced to give me a C or a D.

At the same time, I really haven't figured out a better system. I would be open alternative systems, but I think grades and grading and tests do the best job for the "average case".

Maybe I should email some of my old professors and apologize for the headaches I probably gave them...