I am really amaze with the positive effects of merit and how it changes the forum.
1. A helping hand from the community was offered and expanded to the admin who are reporting those scammers, cheaters and junk posters.
2. The members are more aware with the rules and regulations in the forum.
3. Helpful threads are created to help each other to gain more knowledge with cryptocurrency, how to make a presentable thread and step by step guide was being offered to the community if you have something you don't understand.
4. Negative trust looks like used actively for those members who don't play fair and square
Now 1, 2, and 4 are not actively related to merits. You don't need the promise of a reward to contribute positively. But a lot of people were abusing the system and using it for their own gain, why the 'one merit system's was implemented. To discourage spammers and farmers. And encourage more active interaction in the forum.
Repeated threads have been made about merits, and it is now a hackneyed topic.