Day by day people are getting to know crypto currency, each day good number of interested people join the BitcoinTalk forum. The way the bounty qualifications and rank was in 2012 is not any more. Getting to the next rank is getting more difficult,KYC came in and many other changes, Now don't you think very soon most signature will only be opened to people from Full member and/or very few number will be given the chances of participation in many bounty campaign to have it convenient?
I agree it is really not easy to rank up nowadays. and if you dont have a high rank you can not join to signature campaigns. Luckily i was here early so i could promote till Sr. Member rank. For low ranks may try on social media and blog campaigns instead of signature campaigns.
its not easy if your not doing anything to earn merit. Ive seen threads were a full member being stuck on that rank for a year manage to reach hero member in 2 to 3 months. There are plenty of ways to earn merits.