A score is a memory tool
Ratings are most useful when they help you remember your own response. A score does not need to settle an argument about objective quality. It needs to answer a simpler question: how strongly did this work for you?
That is why one 0-100 scale can work across formats. It compares your enthusiasm, not the production process behind each format.
Normalization adds context
Raw ratings can be noisy. Some people rarely score below 70. Others reserve high numbers for all-time favorites. Normalized scores help show how a rating sits inside a broader pattern.
For discovery, that context matters. A quiet 82 from a tough rater may mean more than a casual 95 from someone who rates almost everything highly.
Formats still keep their details
A shared scale should not erase format-specific context. A board game may need player count and playtime. A book may need author and page count. A TV series may need season context.
The score gives the quick signal. The metadata and notes explain the signal.