Well, I observed altcoin mining thread a bit longer, so pretty well informed whats going on there:
So do as
TheQuin suggested:
If you want to be a merit source:
1. Be a somewhat established member.
2. Collect TEN posts written in the last couple of months by other people that have not received nearly enough merit for how good they are, and post quotes for them all in a new Meta thread. The point of this is to demonstrate your ability to give out merit usefully.
3. We will take a look at your history and maybe make you a source.
I am especially eager to have merit sources in sub-communities such as the local sections.
What you said about spamers is true, but theres a ton of rewards on anorak forum, it would probably be hard to abuse all stats
(although, I agree that when theres a demand for high rank, people are generally ready to do anything)
Bitcointalk is different than other forums, in the sense that people join to earn money, without caring about the subject, and without bringing any knowledge to the table.
That's what Merit is supposed to change, but if I see a thread in altcoin mining, with mainly old accounts even without signature, I don't think those are the ones that should be restricted by the Merit system.