Making the AW and SW pins mandatory has not made it a rubber stamp, but the process is super easy and a minimal amount of effort is expended in getting it. Now every community has a stupid pin, just like the Air Force. If you fail to get your AW or SW pin on a ship, you are an idiot.
Dolphins are earned through many months of blood, sweat, and tears. I have both of the "original"pins, and while I am proud of them both, I had a much more arduous journey on the way to dolphins. Wings were all about graduating flight school and knowing just enough to not kill myself. I had a much greater personal sense of accomplishment when my CO pinned dolphins on my chest. YMMV I guess. There are a lot of people who have both, many of whom are here on AW.
You don't earn your AW or SW pin? You stay an E-4 and don't advance. You don't earn your fish in the required time? You get orders to another community. Thanks for your time.