Guild Wars 2

You want these players to be respected. Having the ability to display the icon should be awarded from their achievements the week prior. This will assure his/her followers that they get things done and actually earned their status for that week.
Have 8 Commanders a week based on PM achievements and like 4-8 based on achievements from the AM hours.
You could even keep it being bought with gold but the only way the icon gets lit is if they’re one of the top players out of all those who purchased it.

Here’s a related thread on the matter.
http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/13e80f/commanders_compendium_should_only_be_purchasable/

Furthermore, it would be helpful to give all players the option to “focus” on one Commander which would turn off the map icons for all except the one you choose.

It would also be nice to filter icons from your map altogether as well.

I rather have a vote for commanders after a certain amount of time in every map. If the commanders are good then players will vote for them, likewise, if a big guild is running something their commander will be voted in.

Also, the ability to turn off people’s icons.