Release of merit system was big thing, but I think that these rank requirements (1 merit to become Jr. Member) have real effect. It changed forum a lot into positive side.
It was really a positive move and it has had a positive effect, getting one merit is quite easy to do, but it's easy to say that simply because we're good posters, for the terrible posters, getting one merit is like swimming across an ocean, and when this was implemented they tried and tried till they gave up, which help get rid of some negative forum members.
So in general, Theymos really improved the forum implementing that.