What is the proper way to use add_rewrite_rule to remove the (question mark)?
try
add_action( 'init', 'addMyRules' );function addMyRules(){ add_rewrite_rule('^people/([^/]*)/?','index.php?name=$matches[1]','top'); add_rewrite_tag('%name%','([^&]+)');}
You should call add_rewrite_rule in the action hook as follows:
add_action('init', 'wpa8715_intit');function wpa8715_intit() { add_rewrite_rule('^people/([^/]*)/?','index.php?name=$matches[1]','top'); add_rewrite_tag('%name%','([^&]+)');}