I am currently the 95th most merited person on the forum and in the just under 16 months since the merit system was introduced, I have not yet received sufficient merit required to become a hero member. I was around when a lot of sMerit was airdropped to everyone and a lot of merit was being given out by a lot of people. There are more merit sources now, but much fewer people are now giving out merit.
The above means less than 95 people have become hero members, I know only a small handful of people have become legendary. I dont know off hand how many have become senior members but I am pretty sure it isnt many.
Based on the above, I think the merit system needs to be tinkered with a little bit.
I don't see that as a big deal. After 16 months, and you're almost a self-made Hero Member. That seems like a reasonable time frame.
I had zero experience with cryptocurrency when I joined the forum a year ago, and that last time I did any coding was over 25 years ago. I try to be helpful, courteous (mostly,) and share what I learn, and despite my lack of technical knowledge I was able to attain Sr. Member status in about 11 months.
I don't know what a reasonable time frame for ranking up is, but it's bound to take some of us longer than others. Some of the members that rank up quickly are spending many hours a day on the forum, and making hundreds of posts a week.