Basically, the "ideal new user" should be able to easily and without any particular "merit farming" be able to far exceed the merit requirements; for them, activity should be the limiting factor.
"should be" =/= "is"
I did consider a 1-point requirement for Member when designing the system, but I thought it might be too easy. We'll see.
I think you overestimate your users, though in fairness that's not hard to do.
Please don't lower your standards, though; all the shitposters here need to get the message to
up theirs.