Well I think this new merit system start by theymos will really help this forum to be get alive with a good quality post. Because many of the users will be obligated to write a knowledgeable and informative comment in order to have a merit. So that those people who will rank up was been screened by this new system.
common, it won't happen. Writing knowledgeable and informative comment does not guaranties you anything, merit simply might not be available in the topic you write )