We all need such massively positive effect.
That is the whole point of the current merit system and we obviously are seeing that effect.
This is one of main reasons why I have a idea that someday, @Theymos should implement new rank requirement which focus on the automatically raised required merits for each rank chronologically.
What I meant is, over a schedule timeframe, for instance 6 months, users at each rank have to satisfy their required merits (new required ones) in order to keep staying at their current ranks. If not, they will be automatically demoted.
To be more clarified, if someone is a Full Member for now, and fortunately stood at the rank with 100 automatically airdroped merits because they was Full Member before the beginning day of the system. Then, what will happen if those guys have perfect opportunities to stay at Full Member rank forever?
It is truly un-fair, right? If someone can not earn even 1 or 10 merit over six months, it makes a lot of sense. And, those ones should be demoted somehow, in my stance.
As you wondered, Spambies are not only Newbies, old Junior Members, but also included some higher-ranked users.
The stuck fever is not just happening to what you called "spambies" but to other high member spammers as well.
The only problem that we have to deal right now is the abuse in which spambies who have connection and budget can really go up because they can easily talk about sending each others merit