Exactly!
Merit system treats all users equally, especially newcomers.
They all have the same start, and someone who can join discussions better via higher constructive efforts can rank up faster.
As Speculatoross has shown, people that come here for the right reasons are having no problem in getting enough Merit to rank up.
Slower but finally, constructive users will rank up to their next ranks for sure.
And they deserve with ranking-up rewards for their continuous constructive works.
It might be a bit slower than it was before but the system is working in allowing them to progress and stopping those that only came here to get paid for posting from gaining rank.
I would like to see the rules of forum become much stricter because more and more spammers, bounty hunters, cheateres come every day.
They all partially contributed making the forum like their shit-landfill place.
The rules will not be adjusted to be more favourable for all because they were designed to be favourable to those that deserve it and not those that don't.