I think that the system could works but need to be a little bit rebalanced: there are not too much merit source in the local community forums also many high ranks do not give merits to people that really deserve them. Ok it is up to us to decide if a post deserve a merit or not but we should encourage people to do better also when they explain a thought that can be different from the one we have.

Also I think the difference between Activity and Merit (in terms of amount) should be leveled. It is very and very difficult to get merits instead of activity so I think the amount of merits people have to receive should be lowered a little bit compared, as said before, to activity.