I'm showing 588 days.
Blah, I've only got 323 days logged in. The thing is, I have my computer running basically 24/7 with bitcointalk always up in one of my tabs--and I tend to check new threads and so forth constantly throughout the day. I know I haven't actually spent that much time browsing or writing.
2) I came all the way from newbie to Hero Member by getting merits for my posts. Confirming that it is possible to be promoted within ranks with this new system of merits.
This is what you should be most proud of, because I'm pretty sure you're in the extreme minority with that achievement. Most Newbie or Jr. Member accounts I see look like they're never going to rank up any further than they have. If you've earned enough merits to get to Hero Member from scratch, that's quite an accomplishment. You ought to get a special badge for that.
Keep up the good work--and it's a good thing you started this thread, because it shows that it's possible to earn enough merits to rank up. I'm pretty sure that's what most lower-ranked members are concerned about. If any of them are frustrated or in doubt as to how to do it, they ought to look at what you did as a model.