Agree.
Merit system has both advantages and disadvantages.
If they don't have enough skills, they should learn more, practice more, experience more to become more skilled, more experienced, more knowledgeable. I don't see any reason for hurry to get merits.
Its really hard to get merit for normal person with low skills.
Sometimes high quality threads will earn merits, sometimes they won't. Consequently, please do pay too much attention on merit system. You should do your contributive threads, someday in the future, you will rank up to higher position.
It is very tough to get merit for good post.