I just saw the Merit system and it is new to me and I read some post about the new merit system and I am asking if it is true that it is hard for a newbie to reach a higher rank because of the newly added system on this forum.
a new user registered on a bitcoin forum and his second post is asking about leveling up his rank 
read TheQuin's answer, rethink again your intention when joining this forum
if you joined for the reason other than discussing bitcoin, quit now don't waste your time
If you use the forum for what it is intended, discussion about Bitcoin, then that will be easy. What has become hard is to simply rank up by spamming the forum. That is why the merit system was introduced.
And as for the op , no dude it is not hard, it never was and never will!