I found this quote slightly disturbing - it would tend to imply that others who are not merit sources are allowed to sell their merits. That rather kills the whole concept.
That's logically unsound.
P = if you are a merit source you are not allowed to sell your merits.
¬P ≠ if you are not a merit source you are allowed to sell your merits.
Just because merit sources are not allowed to sell their merits does not mean that non-sources
are.