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.
Admin does not want to change seriously and make the forum unfriendly for good newbies. I don't think he will require more merits for the Junior Member rank.
Remove of airdropped merits will make old Senior Members, Hero Members and Legendary members feel paranoid, like what theymos said on misuse or too serious use of trust system months ago. Good old users can rank up again, even their airdropped merits removed and they will be deranked. They definitely don't have issue to move up again, just need a little bit time. Nevertheless, once again, I don't think airdropped merits will be removed because of probably paraniods.