Would you do this work but not expect credit for your progress? Especially if your career depended on it?

Not many people create things and refuse to sign them, and believe in anonymous contributions to humanity. I’ve had coworkers present my work uncredited with the implication that it was theirs. Not many people would be fine with that.

There are a few, but not many. Suggests to me that what you call “gold stickers are actually important.