I don't want to ask for merit but I really like your thread and want to post in it but don't want to do so without making an attempt to follow your OP guidelines so here goes..

I stumbled upon this thread of yours while reading the thread charting your merit generosity wondering what the link in your sig could possibly lead to..


Here is my first post on bitcointalk..

TheGrammarHammer was pretty vocal about the collective problems we were experiencing and I guess got shadowbanned..  
I traded Cryptsy for a long time before I ever signed up here.. I came here to try to keep up with the current news about the catastrophe that was happening at my crypto home Cryptsy..
I'm an altcoin trader but definately a bitcoin guy..

Explaining what was causing massive market imbalances on my 1st page of newbie posts..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1233119.msg12992926#msg12992926
I knew a bit more than your average newbie coming in..

Here is a decent post or a few from 2015..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1206279.msg13068205#msg13068205
I talked a lot about trading..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1206279.msg13089417#msg13089417
Here is one solidifying my BTC preference way back then..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1285787.msg13240326#msg13240326
I'm just taking a look forwards through my post history..

I got into lending here in 2016 and did a bit of business..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1314190.0
Won some lost some as usual..
I found it too much work to monitor the section trying to scoop new incoming loans all the time but learning about all the detective work it takes to vet someone and look for scams has been great for me..

Throwing some cred to thunderjet who turned out to be a key player in tracking cryptsy transactions..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=527500.msg14502781#msg14502781
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1173703.msg13587772#msg13587772

Talking about trading some more..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1583985.msg15907539#msg15907539
"BTCs its all about the BTCs and collecting me more BTCs because that is the only way I know how to do it.."


The trading I have been most into for a while are actually counterparty assets on bitcoin..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1841341.msg18344010#msg18344010
That is one of my creations along with it's tradable asset on the DEX..

I've bought and sold some physicals.. And a couple other things here..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2076308.msg20751950#msg20751950

A more recent BTC prediction..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2397936.msg24516824#msg24516824

I've given countless current events style exchange updates, what the heck they are up to this week and such..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1954598.msg25271853#msg25271853


I like to read meta a lot and sometimes I weigh in on discussions of scams and shitposters..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2535025.msg26102226#msg26102226
I am pretty libertarian minded which is a huge reason I'm into BTC..

Talking about trading..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2552949.msg26048459#msg26048459

Talking price swings..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2567915.msg26210228#msg26210228

Exchange current events..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2603329.msg26499307#msg26499307


I've been talking about a lot of stuff for a long time.. I could sign my staked address still too but that would involve me dusting off a retired computer..

I just came back to this whole merits thing.. I have been working across the country for the last year so I haven't had a lot of crypto time..
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2818350.msg30105041#msg30105041

As you can see if you check my stats to the left I am one of the ones that have had my merits squeezed right at the tail end of Hero so now I am potential Legendary in activity but need almost 500 merits, heh..
I'm really not that worried about it but I suppose I could use your 20 merits to help me get there some day if you deem me worthy..

I wanted to make all sorts of comments about your OP and related but doing that just now took a lot of time already and it's like 5am..
I'll save that for when I come back to answer your questions (if I get that far) but you should know that I'm not a computer whiz coder kind of BTC guy, I'm just an exchange rat..
I do HODL a bit of BTC on my ledger too if that helps make my case.. I don't have any altcoins other than the forks racking up on my physicals and some XCP assets..

You know what else I did, I just paid real USA federal and state taxes on the piece of BTC I sold in 2017.. I took a little profit salary on all my hard work, Bought me a BMW...

I don't get paid for this signature either, I just like the people, think it is a good place that I would like to see succeed..