"I just don't understand why Intuit is putting so much effort and emphasis on badges, which serve no real purpose, when this is supposed to be a professional forum."

Because Intuit interpreted "how about knocking a couple bucks off of the software for helping out here" as an answer to a survey as meaning "they want to earn something".  Discounted software means lost revenue but badges don't cost anything. 

All I ever wanted was foam anvils instead of the steel ones that are available here.