Just sounds like normal life, if you arent known on this forum thats the way its going to be.    Stick around a while, take an interest and do some good business and its not that long a wait I hope.   I do think there isnt enough merits available to good new members who take part in the forum properly.   They have to get like 100 to step upto the next rank?   thats like asking toddlers to hop through giant footsteps, the scale required on that part is probably incorrect but having some process new people must go through is really correct.

The merit sources thing is a little bit too exclusive, thats my view obviously its down to Thermos what his vision is but if he wants all the ranks accessible I think the merit system requires more liquidity.   Maybe loosen it up a little but allow -merit, people would probably love that tbh like its a game :p