In some of the bounty programs that I've followed, decreasing the rank to the newbie had no effect on the signature campaign that was running and would still get the stake in accordance with the shelf when we registered. But to join the new signature campaign it wouldn't be possible.
At first I also felt desperate to get merit because I felt it is impossible or very difficult. But I tried to review my post and the result turned out that my 180+ posts were junk / spam that came from an airdrop program that required constructive post, report bounty and low quality comments. I am trying to read a good thread, follow the discussion on some threads and learn from it.
The point I want to tell you, the new rules that are made are very good, so that this forum has added value for all members. The problems with "difficult" to get merit is not because this forum makes it difficult for us. Try to review your own posts first, is it good enough to get some merit?
The purpose of applying the one merit regulation for junior member rankings is to improve the quality of forum posts that have so far been filled with garbage, and that is a good policy to follow. However, for some newbies they find it difficult to get one merit and they wonder what "quality posts are like?" I saw some newbies who managed to get merit, but posting them was mediocre, nothing special. I thought that they got it from buying and selling merit. Is there really a sale and purchase of merit?