It does seem very quickly that people have started to abuse the system already.
I Have finely got some explanation what merit is
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2818350.0 , but I am totally agree with you about abusing, people are really started actually. I think creators of this merit forgot about multiply accounts problem and simply one user can send +merit to one of his account and simply pump it. It is kinda "like" and I see no problem in it, I am not going to cry if my posts will not be liked ever. The problem will be when moderators will make "demerit" or "dislike", then haters will organize a whole war here on the forum...
Hopefully the demerit thing doesn't come into force as I'll be knocked straight back down to newbie from a few members who don't like my posts/me. It is a fairly worrying prospect.