In bitcointalk forum there are really good posts even that does not earn atleast single point of merits.and there are many spam and off topic posts that earn bunch of merits.
And even some forum users does not give merits for quality posts and they share merits with only there friends for some shit posts
Some forum users who tried to make quality posts are now demotivate with this situation
I think it will be successful to other, and will not successful to other also. Why? I strongly agree with you, most merits given in off topics and with friends because actually that will be the system now. The post that have quality will not be given merit because of what? You will see the difference, and I think merit system is not successful.