If you username is correct, then we are actually of similar age (i was born in 77).
I agree with you that high scores were a big part of the arcade experience, i spent a small fortune in my local arcade as a kid so i am very aware. However the post you just quoted from me was a reply to another user who said "if people are gonna cheat no point in playing", that is what i disagree with. For me high scores were certainly part of the appeal, but not all of it. That statement by the other user basically says if there are no high scores there is no point playing the games, that i 100% disagree with, i would of still played the arcade games i liked back in my local arcade as a kid if they had high scores or not.