Honor is a balancing mechanism that helps keep the stronger players from being too strong. Basically it provides a handicap, like golf. I am not saying it is the best handicap system. But a handicap mechinism is needed in this game.
If a 20 year old wants to play baseball against a 8 year old, then the 8 year old deserves a handicap, like a 10 point lead into the game and 2 points for every 1 point the 20 year old makes.
If honor could not be manipulated by "dumping" it then it would be just fine.