personally me think merit system should not be there and ranks should be done via there post counts and quality of its posts
Going to heaven is not an easy as 123, you need good deeds to climb up the stairs.
as of its too hard for new comers too to gather merits from old members who always do trades and exchange merit only for them but the person who is new and if he dont has btc to exchange then its less chance for him even after posting quality post on bitcointalk forum
You must study the prayer before start praying, besides shooting a stone in a big rock will never change anything.