[mangatmodi]

How is it different from upvoting an answer? People who want to write will still write thanks, I already found some posts on the home page with thanks comment and the feature.

Also what about the change in reputation when being thanked? It should be there in the blog post.

[wodenokoto]

My understanding is that these are pure vanity. Doesn't require any reputation to give, doesn't give any reputation either, nor does it sort your post.

[mangatmodi]

I went to meta-discussion and learned more details. Most of the thanks comment are written by folks who already have upvote powers. Anyways its a fun read. Grab popkorn and go through it :)