Someone advocating full freedom of speech should not whine about low quality postings but welcome it as freedom of speech too. Supporting the merit system which in theory (but not reality) is meant to exclude a certain mode of speech means also supporting the limitation of freedom of speech. And someone considering 'I like your project' as low quality posting but 'cunt' and 'motherfucker' as high quality has seriously some loose wires.
I further explained to you before that I am supportive of the freedom for all and not the full freedom of a few restricting the freedom of many. It is that which I find frustrating, the unequality of freedom, not the difficulty of moving up.
How exactly is the merit system restricting your freedom of speech? You can still speak. May or may not get rewarded for it (if you consider merit a reward, which you seemingly don't, so that's even more confusing).
Edit: to answer OP's question - I'm rather ambivalent. Most users seem to be more concerned about reduced ability to whore out their rank than actual positive uses of this new system. Hopefully this will pass.