I would suggest that all the merit sources put a hold on giving merits in meta for a while, I know it will be hard as there is a ton of quality posts in here (mainly from Higher ranks). I personally think that a few of us should make the effort to be more active in the beginners sub if we tried it for a month or two and made the merit rain there for any non shitposters it should give us some breathing room in here.
I'd like to promote the beginners' board, political, serious discussion, and the Ivory Tower. I'd be happy to work with you to improve quality there by awarding merits. If you want to discuss it privately, then comment on Blab chat, I still visit that daily.
I think the idea of developing other boards of this forum, especially Beginners & Help, deserves respect. Those forum participants who don`t stand on a selfish foundation, and are willing to invest their strength in the improvement of bitcointalk are commendable. But I very much doubt that the increase in the distribution of merit in the beginners sub will have a positive effect on reducing the amount of spam.
Yes, its likely that there will be fewer shitposters in Meta. But won`t be less in total. Merit hunters keep an eye on where the last ones are distributed more generously. At the moment, the field of their "activity" has become Meta board, since it`s here a greater number of those users who write constructive and qualified posts, and hence the main merit sources are focused. But as soon as the main part of the conscious members move to another board (no matter which) and pull the merit sources with them, shitposters will follow them and take new positions by storm.
In order to truly change the forum for the better, we need to think strategically, not tactically. Yes, future-oriented solutions take much longer to see the results, but in turn they`re more sustainable and long-term. I agree that it`s necessary to prohibit wearing signatures to those below the member rank. But besides this, it`s necessary to introduce restrictions for signature campaigns. They need to be moderated and controlled, it`s worth to close those ones which provoke spam, and with the help of ignorant participants, spread it. Not everyone understands that participation in signature campaigns is a privilege. Therefore, it`s necessary to attach it at the legislative level, by introducing more stringent rules.