Hmm. I think I've gotten so used to shitposts I kind of look through them.
I always report phishing stuff, blatant shilling of junk and necroposts.
When it's a 'Dear, bitcoin is a most excellent system of money for we can make profit' type post it's invisible to me.
As for merit my own views are - 3-5 to move up from newbie. Lower requirements for the middling ranks and the removal of all legacy ranks and airdropped merit.
It's been long enough now.