Yes it is working as expected, we have less spam and since anything empty should be refilled, the spam is now come to this section with dozens of merit topics!

merit is GARBAGE https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3032236.0
Would you join this Merit Survey? https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2999382.0
Why did they actually enter MERIT ? https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3030382.0
Some confusions regarding "Merit system" https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3000813.0
Merit is the best thing that happened to new users https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2828014.0
Merit Requirements too difficult to JR. Members https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3006322.0
Yet another "Merit" post....please just hear me out for a minute. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3035737.0
The Merit System - Why it is fundamentally flawed https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3042759.0

Enjoy reading the topics that i found only in the first and second page of meta!!!
Hilarious, meta is ruined SOS!