The list is heavily weighted to make merit much more valuable than it is and not give credit to contributions made prior to the merit system's introduction.
Might be you are right, because few days back I have same activity and same trust and I am not in the list. I guess I got some 20 merits and I make it to this list. so this list is considering merit seriously.
The reason this matters is that users who were instrumental to Bitcoin like early developers and people who have been shunned from the community as it evolved are penalized by the way Recognition Rank is scored. Vod's argument is that newer users here don't recognize the early names. I don't believe this to be true.
Roger Ver has a Recognition Rank of >1000 &
Gavin Andresen has a Recognition Rank of 865, while
abhiseshakana has a Recognition Rank of 333. Which names do you recognize? What would the ranks be if the original merit were included in the algorithm?
Contribution to forum activities is not equivalent to the contribution the bitcoin development. So new user that you see highly ranked just mean they are contributing in forum well being or making other people aware of bitcoin or putting some good discussion or helping to catch the scammers and shitposters.
So whatever the rank Vod's site shows, it is just parameter of taking part in forum discussions and recognized in this forum.(Nothing to do with your recognition in BTC world).
PS: I do know about Gavin and Roger Ver .