Even with the lack of merits to give I do still think that there is no need to add more merit-sources for now as we still need more time for the merit system to do its thing which is to reduce spam and create more sensible post.
Well, I have to disagree. We often forget about the local boards, in where there's a lack of Merit Sources, I'm afraid. Also, the decay in the merit distribution can discourage good posters to keep going with their amazing activity.
I think we need more Merit Sources, trustful ones (maybe the own mods) to encourage good posters to keep going. This is kind of unfair to make a real effort and can't rank up due to the lack of merits, either in your local board or in the English one.
The graphics are clear about that: the merit given-away are less and less every day, and even if it is based on the decreasing activity of farmers, the collateral damage is kind of dangerous, for it can discourage amazing posters to keep going.