Reviews Vs Ratings – what’s the difference?

As I have some spare time, I’ve been checking on my product reviews. I’ve noticed that people who take the time to leave a written review show as a Verified Purchaser, but those who leave a rating (no comment) are not.

I use the reviews to check I’m getting it right; although it’s great to hear someone loved my product, it can also be helpful to receive constructive criticism – it gives me the opportunity to consider improvements. A 2* rating doesn’t help me, it just reduces my ratings average

As my reviews are all positive and the ratings vary considerably, it has made me wonder if the ratings are also from Verified Purchasers? As they are undated, it’s impossible to know if they are the opinion of someone who actually purchased the item.

What is the point of ratings when they don’t say anything about the product, good or bad?