Quote: "I wish that was true"
It all depends on how you look at the term "Valued Member", be it from the token some have next to their avatar, or some list you have in your head. Each of us have our own list of who we think the valuable members are, and what it actually takes to qualify them. (ie: for me, it takes people who are more than willing to help, even if they are not professionals)
Quote: "AND be well known and/or make awesome stuff."
depending on the way you look at the term, it may be true that they have to be such, or it could just be another trait that many of them seem to share for no reason. To some, I may (in some rare case) be a valued member, while to others I may seem stuck up, while others may still look at me as just some amateur.
It's all about the perspective, not just in value, but in many "walks" of life.
-H