Is it fair that the hardest worker on the team to receives the least recognition?

When drafting a journal article, there’s no question that writers are the ones that work the hardest. Nevertheless, subject matter experts’ names are listed first in the authorship.

Whoever takes on the greatest RESPONSIBILITY should receive the greatest recognition. After all, the writer is off the hook after doing his part—the subject matter expert is not.

The hardest workers don’t always get the most recognition. But that doesn’t mean that they should stop working hard.

If not for the recognition, then what for?