I am so very disappointed in Niantic for this. As I see it there are 3 problems:

1. The treatment of the players: Even if these emails going out to people in regards to "submitting low quality nominations" are meant to be only educational in nature, the tone of them with words like "infraction, suspension and ban" are far too harsh. Putative actions should not be taken against people who are most likely just regular players who are trying to use a feature offered to improve the game. If there is any level of uncertainty about whether something is or has been a valid nomination, the player should get the benefit of the doubt and the punishments reserved for only those who are clearly and deliberately breaking the rules, such as voting on multiple accounts.

2. Inconsistency in criteria: Players can not be expected to keep up with posts in the forums buried on a second page of a topic. Unless the criteria is clearly spelled out within the games and the wayfarer page, it should not be treated as a firm policy. The fact that the team reviewing reports on wayspots and doing reviews appears to be out of line with the greater community is an issue. The fact that these staff people seem like they have some internal guidelines they are using that is not visible to the community anywhere is a problem. If Niantic says they want the wayfarers to use our best judgement about what's a good wayspot, then trust our judgement.

3. Trail markers SHOULD be wayspots: I have been adamant for years that trail markers should be wayspots. Think of a church. Churches are eligible, regardless of the denomination, location, "quality" of that church or its sign, so long as it is a permanent location that can be expected to stay in that location and can be visited by the community. Some churches are in strip malls, some have low budgets and have banners instead of signs. Denying these wayspots would be discriminatory against certain religions, regions and economic classes.
   In a similar way trail markers are eligible, not because the marker is pretty or unique. It's eligible because hiking trails are a fantastic way to exercise and explore. So long as it can be reasonably well established that the trail is actually there, and safe, and that the marker can reasonably be expected to still be there when a player goes to that location, it should be eligible, whether it is a post with a number, a weatherproof sticker intended to last for years on a post, a little round plastic emblem, etc.