You can add other reasons too if you want, gameplay, uber moves and the like..
I'm split between Suikoden 4 and 5.
In suikoden 4, the rune of Punishment is pretty much cursed, sapping the life of the bearer and then transfering to the nearest person who can hold it. Getting all the stars changes the "mode" of the rune, where it no longer saps the life of the bearer and also preserves the life of the hero. Ending the tragic cycle, but in the end it dosen't have much of an effect on history..
In Suikoden V getting all 108 pretty much makes the land prosperous, and Lyon's life is preserved. And you get a pretty sweet ending scene too. It seems to have a big effect on the whole land. Considering it's the SUN rune, not in it's wrath phase but "life-giving"..
Tell me what you think and correct me if I got anything wrong.