Bruno Kestemont Lv 1
I estimated that the learning curve was about 2 years or 200 puzzles in order to reach the current top 15-20 soloist players, or the >50 who have a little bit more chance to "contribute to science than beginners playing random.
From this point of view, beginner's race is a good incentive to keep beginners on line during this long process.
Achievments are good rewards as well.
There might be other parallel competitions or rewards to keep players during the 2 years learning curve.
From the point of view of "contributing to science", evolver's race seems to be a way for beginners to have a short term "contributing to science" sense or reward.
One reward was "authored a paper". In recent policy of publication, there is more chance to be rewarded here: should it be reactivated ?