If they are using the Smerits given to them by the forum as a pillar of the merit system to award to people for reasons laid out before applying as a merit source, they are held to higher scrutiny.
I'm still waiting to be accused of giving merits to lower-ranked accounts as a means of somehow politically influencing them to be on "my side". That accusation hasn't come yet, but it seems to be the next logical step for cryptohunter and the rest of the trolls. The members on that list of his are never going to do anything right in the trolls' minds, regardless of what those members do.
Foxpup -
Lauda -
The Pharmacist -
marlboroza
owlcatz
suchmoon
Coolcryptovator
DireWolfM14
Hhampuz
Jet Cash
LoyceV
TMAN
o_e_l_e_o
xtraelv
These members are all pretty good posters overall, and there are many others too. It shouldn't be surprising that they've earned quite a bit of merit for their efforts. I'd also point out (again) that the number of sMerits I've given to these members as a percentage of the total amount I've given out is, I think, relatively small. I have not done the math and am only speaking for myself here.
Most of the merits I've given have not been source merits, either. The vast majority of sMerits I've given to anyone on the above list have been ones I've earned. I only got made a merit source a few months ago, and my allotment was pretty small to begin with. And take a look at the number of members who aren't on this list that I've merited; you'll hardly see evidence of abuse.