I've been getting honored an average of about once every other game, and I haven't been without a ribbon since I earned my first one a couple days after the honor system came out.
It doesn't seem that quantity makes any particular difference in whether or not you earn a ribbon. Rather, it's consistency. Are you a nice player every game, regardless of whether you're winning or losing? But I can't be sure how it works; the actual formulas have never been posted, to my knowledge.
In any case, the honor system is just about dead. At some point I expect Riot will be coming back to it, perhaps offering some sort of reward. Maybe it will be based on how often you are honored, or how often you honor others. I would expect a system that weights individual honor points based on how often that person gives it out. If they're honoring every player they meet, it would count for less. But if they don't do that, and instead only honor a few people, maybe 1 or 2 per game, then it might count for more.
Let me see, I've never been reported for anything that I know of...I don't do a lot of talking in games I will say nj or such things, and I will engage in talking or helping if advice is asked for ! I don't spam reports ( very seldom do I even report anyone it has to be very nasty event to make me hit the report button )
As far as giving out honors... I Never ask for one... I will give them for all categories...if anything I might give honors that I usually wouldn't If people were saying rude things and I'll give 1 or 2 out for the people who just ignored comments and or went over to help the rude people..so not sure that would be spamming honors :))
Mostly I was just curious about them and thanks for all answers and OP for the thread. I'd vote for showing all the ribbons I think they should be shown :)