I agree with you with the end of the account farming.

But for your earlier statement, I guess theymos gave higher rank members (old members) merit points based on their rank is to help to grow this community, because higher rank members surely know which one is a good post and which is not. Higher rank members have a lot of smerit points that can be given to other who needs, so you guys may contribute too to measure which person deserves a higher position, and there is no use to hold your smerit points as it may decay.