I think ranked voting is fine as long as you’re not forced to rank your choices. This is due to practical reasoning but also psychological reasoning.
Practical reason: people don’t have an opinion about the ranking of all the candidates
Consider the very practical situation (that I’m myself facing in ENS ranked votings) of someone that has only a first preference, but has no opinion on any of the other candidates (besides their preferred one).
Since they are forced to rank the other candidates anyway, they just do it randomly.
In this case in the example you gave, Bob and Charlie mention Woodpecker as number 2 in a random way (because you force them to choose a second place). Which makes Woodpecker elected, even though they’re not particularly wanted more than others.
Psychological reason: confusing system and it’s offensive to be ranked last
Though you explained the system wonderfully, it’s still confusing to many people. I think a voting system should be simple to understand by everyone.
One reason is that It makes it easier to spot problems. For example, there was a bug in ENS stewards first elections, which wasn’t spotted till the second elections, since the system is difficult to follow.
Another reason is that a system people understand is easier to trust.
But not less important is the fact that I don’t want to rank anyone last. I feel it’s an offensive thing to do.
Moreover, as I was nominated for the last stewards elections, I was also kind of offended when some people put me last. It’s one thing not to vote for me or even not to vote for me as the top 3 (that’s normal), and another thing to be ranked last. It feels a bit like a popularity competition in elementary school, and I never liked these. I’m telling myself it was done out of default, not out of having something against me, but it’s still not a pleasurable feeling and one that could be avoided in a different system.
I understand the system was chosen in order to prevent strategic voting, but since imo it also has its cons then I would switch it in favor of another one. Maybe simple voting, but even if not, I’d switch to a system that doesn’t force people to rank everyone.
I’m aware snapshot doesn’t have such a system in place, but I guess ENS DAO can pay for making one?