In addition, outside this website, these merits don't mean anything and can not be used at all. So, why do so many users try to get them from the very beginning of their registration, as if this is their main goal on the forum?
Of course, outside of this website, merits have no value. Just like beyond bitcointalk limits, rank, trust, activity no value. But these factors are relevant to forum and community members. We come to bitcointalk and live by it`s rules (or violate them). There`re special laws, so the values are also peculiar, they are confessed only by the participants of this website. Mostly people hunt for merits because of money. But this isn`t the only reason. Many participants thus self-actualize and self-affirm. Merit performs the function of like, approval or consent. And for many people, it`s a way to raise self-esteem.