Tessa,
Yup writers as a lot aren't very consistent.
To add to the confusion let me ramble some more.
Reviewers should (hopefully) be readers, sometimes you wonder but I think that's true for the most part.
The reviews are sometimes directed at the author and sometimes at the readers, that depends on the reviewer and how they phrase it, a bit like writing from a point of view.
Authors LUV reviews for the most part, it means someone cared enough to take keyboard to screen and state their thoughts on your efforts.
Of course if the gist of those thoughts is "You SUCK!!" then the charm and worth of the review is somewhat diminished unless it is accompanied by a more detailed explanation or even some constructive suggestions.
The scoring might be of greater interest to potential readers and that may indeed be what makes the writers a bit twitchy about the whole process. Perhaps the two should be separated, a review section for the writers feedback and a scoring section for the audience made up of people who have read the story and need do nothing more than punch a number to register their vote.
Still we have what we have and we muddle through smiling and gripping as the spirit moves us.
Mad & Lews