A system that encourages number of contributions over quality can be counterproductive. Wikipedia cautions against 'editcountitis', humorously described as 'a belief that a Wikipedian's overall contribution level can be measured solely by their edit count'.
Source: wiktionary
The author of the original tool for counting edits noted that editcountitis, or an unhealthy obsession with the notion of edit count, can be fatal. Editcountitis is often a symptom of Wikipediholism, which is an even worse disease. The only sure treatment is worrying more about the quality of your edits than the quantity.
Source: wiktionary
Wikipedians can be a similarly compulsive and eccentric lot. So much so that some refer to themselves as Wikipediholics with a case of editcountitis, "a serious disease consisting of an unhealthy obsession with the number of edits you have made to Wikipedia."
Source: wiktionary
In fact, the very ease of this process may be the reason for deletionism's prevalence: Many Wikipedians suffer from editcountitis, the state of being overly obsessed with the number of edits one makes.
Source: wiktionary