is contrary to the principles of satoshi and this movement.
Perhaps you should go and read all of his emails and posts. They are all technical. Programming. There is no indication in any of them of what his "principles" were regarding anything else other than creating decentralized e-cash via open source software. Nor is there any indication that he viewed this as a "movement" or even wanted it to be a "movement". So right here, it's clear you're talking about some other "principles and movement" that you've created in your own mind thus making everything else you've said invalid.
I will however support you in that the merit system sucks big balls. I come and go here often and it was "fun" knowing that one day by participating I would get up to "legendary" status. But when the new system came out I knew it would never happen cause I'm not one to play the game. I don't participate in the areas of the forum where my better posts would get noticed by those that are apt to hand out the merit. The system rewards those that play the game, actively seeking it out etc. For that reason alone it's a ridiculous system. But whatever, Theymos owns the site, he can do what he wants and if we don't like it we're free to go start our own.
Sort of funny. It used to be people constantly bitched about the trust system. Now they bitch about the merit system. There's always something to whine about.
Perhaps he wanted an exact replica of the central banking system? kind of strange he bothered making bitcoin.
We are going to assume (perhaps incorrectly so) that satoshi would prefer a trustless decentralized end to end arena where each member is ensured equal and fair treatment as far as possible.
It is true there is no knowing for sure satoshi's actual purpose so if that upsets satoshi he is free to come to this thread and state we are incorrect.
I mean why go for trustless and decentralized if you want centralized control?
The merit systems suck because of multiple reasons detailed here.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5088852.msg48852692#msg48852692Except it sucks much more now because it is the trust system and now the volume control for all members.
Nobody cares about STATUS legendary or otherwise people ONLY care about the financial advantages and rev streams merit opens up and how you can use it to control the competition.
The only legends here are those that have DONE SOMETHING significant that has made a difference. We would say in a positive way, others may argue there are legends in a negative way that will be part of the history here.
We would not fit into any of those categories when using as context the current crop of meta board inhabitants.