when "merit" is so valuable for beginners will it be "merit" on sale. because from now on there will be so many newbies who hunt "merit" 
If you see someone selling their Smerit, you'd better to report it and by that action you can easily earn merit. Yes, its hard to earn merit now but we must stick to the rules and don't take any steps for that so you will not be punished later on. If you are serious here in this forum, you will do your best to learn more and you will not focus much on earning merit. It will come to you anyway, just keep on working.