I have read most these posts. first of all I aggree with there shouldn't be any trade on merit . friends are right merit measures quality of posts but there is a missing point I think. when you right something rigth or fully informed post you can't take any merit from someone. or getting very few. merits getting valuable as bitcoin. when the merit system has come I had a 58 posts. because of 2 posts I couldn't get "member" it doesn't sound very fair sometimes to me.
I think merit system will be very hard thing for many good users they dont have any support from their friends and they still in their same rank with many quality posts I think it should be changed by the forum soon.