Fill me in on Cod Prestige mode plz

So i just pressed prestige mode and im lvl 21 and there is a star next to my name which is okay but i see others with other symbol that look way cooler why is that? Also i have to unlock more classes by going 2nd or 10th lvl of prestige what is that?

when you reach prestige mode you basically forfiet all your weapons for the new badge and yoru elevel is reset to one and you have to unlcok all your weapons again. Some dont think its worth it but the numebr of cool badges you get are more than enough for me and it makes you betetr having to play with teh crappy guns alot insteas of relying on stuff you unlock in the higher levels like the .50 cal sniper and the p90.

Btw is alot of people online? I havent been on in months and im here currently playing resistance 1 online but i want to know if alot are on so in could hop on but im too lazy.