The awards have accomplished several things for me personally. First, I had a phobia about "web surfing". Since I am a workaholic, I felt that "surfing" just to be out there was wasting time. Now that I go out and review sites, I can do it as if it were a job that I must do. I enjoy it very much too.
Another benefit I have realized is that receiving an award helps build confidence and self-esteem, and spurs us on to create better and better sites. People who give them really do have high standards. None of us (my friends who also give awards) feel that we are so wonderful that we can become judge and jury, and just arbitrarily go out there and pronounce something as "good" or "bad". There are various things we look for. All of them contribute to excellance in a web site. I always think, this person has the award unless he/she convinces me that they don't need to have something which is linked back to me on their pages. Last but not least, it gives us new friends, and a very good way to "surf". Starting from someone's list of award winners can be very rewarding. It's certain that you are not going to be disappointed.
I've had my say, so let's look at these wonderful new ones! They are all linked back to the giver of the award.