Merit trading is definitely an unacceptable practice. Given how hard it is to get any merit I think that the cut off point for where you need merit points should be at member not a junior member.
A lot of people are stuck at junior member as it is now. Obviously they would be stuck at member in stead, but that seems fair to me.
maybe that seems fair to you, but I bet members would find it unfair, and ask for cut off at full member
Its just right to have that kind of cut-off so the forum wont really be flooded by new members just to sign up and join up bounty campaigns or abusing giveaways and other related stuff. Actually I do see your merit history and seems like you do have lots of friends passing up merit for sometime its quite shady.