Looks like imposing the merit requirements gave the forum a new way to find cheaters on the forum. Anyone tagged for merit abuse will most def be removed from any campaigns I manage.
I started imposing merit requirements to look for more quality posters, not to find out the biggest cheaters. Just because it can be done doesn't make it right though, I mean using that logic I should go rob a bank. It can be done but is it legal? Imposing any rules or implementing any new system doesn't mean go and break the rules of the forum. This shows your character and shows me you don't deserve to be on bitcointalk, so IMO imposing this new system just brought out a bunch of weak users and gave the forum reasons to say goodbye to them