QA activity days often lead to a large number of duplicate issues being filed.
This is true. But I think there is value when new users (for some value of "new") file duplicate issues. In particular, I think it points up a possible need to increase the severity/priority of the issues reported.
The other thought I had was about the layered personas being created
for the team. Since Chris points out later in this thread that QA is a relatively "new concept", being egalitarian would have a much higher chance at a larger percentage of committed members of a QA group.
Thank you. Again, I think this comes down to testing activities or "charters" being designed well, in advance, by those who have some knowledge of the project being tested, for the benefit of those who have less knowledge. The level of expertise from project to project for any particular person will change radically over the course of multiple test exercises. "Egalitarian" is a good word.