It sucks, the Karma system is potentially great. But as always there is one problem.. people are idiots and ruin it for others.
I still think a system which ranks people in the activity and commitment they have to cups etc they have signed up for would be better.
In reality TUS is a series of competitions and not a popularity contest. So reliable people should always be ranked higher than some guy who has lots of clan mates that "applaud" (kiss ass) each other on a daily basis.