Your first paragraph is not related to your topic and post.
The main problem with the whole premise is that in this forum we have a financial incentive to NOT give Merit to new users
Unfortunately jealousy is natural but unprofessional, and yes may be some users on this forum are doing exactly what you are stating but you can't deny that majority of the users are using their power in right direction.
If every member on this forum have the same negative mentality to restrict new users on lower rank then how "nullius" earned merits more than 500?
Financial incentives to sell or swap Merit
Users who are involved in these type of activities are being tagged with negative trust by DT members after getting caught.
Why should only high-ranking users decide who gets points?
So you believe a new member with just few posts and activities would be able to judge quality posts on this forum?, Simply illogical.
A lack of rewards for users answering "newb" questions
Not lack of rewards, i guess lack of skills of the user who is answering the questions.
A good answer which covers all the aspects of question in a precise way would never stay unrewarded.