Before merit was introduced we lived in a forum where everybody could rank by just posting, nothing was required, there were no "inequalities" it was a lot like the re-distribution of wealth.
Every newbie who couldn't even spell bitcoin could enjoy the benefits of this forum that was built by others, people who have made it famous with no incentives at the time.
And guess what, it would have ended just like every redistribution ends in real life, where everybody becomes equal but at the same time poor as nobody would consider advertising on a forum overrun by spambots, people that don't bother reading or are illiterate and can't understand what's written on a simple banner, and with all those that had some knowledge fleeing the country (forum).
Should be but it is not. It could be called this aptitude test if all posters got reset to lower ranks and had to earn merit to advance. Since higher ranks got a lot of merit for nothing, same as old, abandoned accounts, that were later traded and used as merit donors, the system is not perfect.
Yeah...right.
Funny fact when talking about received merit, Gavin has received only 14 merits, about one 1/5 of how much you've got, and 1/10 of mine.....he should go back to jr member, right?