My signature campaign already announced to require all participants to have earned at least 10 Merits four weeks from now. That gives a (large) monetary value to Merit. Update: this won't be required yet.
Some of yahoo's campaigns are starting to drop the payment for those without merit, and I anticipate more campaigns doing something requiring merit soon.
Much better to give importance this merit in signature campaign to make participants pursue to post good quality to be qualify in the higher tier of payment. also this is the main purpose of the merit system to avoid shit posting and the account will not subject to rank up if they do not gain merit points.