I would agree, however, with increasing the threshold from Junior member from 1 merit to 10 merit. It is still too easy for spammers and account farmers to beg, buy, trade, use alts, or plagiarize their way to single merit and then start signature spamming for some meaningless altcoin. I'd also agree with removing airdropped merit for the same reason.
Now we're getting somewhere

About removing the airdropped merits I'm with you, if you want to start a riot.
Of course, if we take Bossian's exploits of the merit system as being granted, even these 10 merits seem too few. But it could me a start.
For the lulz, let's remember how Bossian "
hacked" the system:
Merits are extremely overrated and useless (my opinion) but since I see quite many folks here begging for merits, today I will give you the best advice ever. Finally you will get your 10 merits within a week (guaranteed)!!
Pretty simple.
Visit this thread:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=178336.510540This thread is very active and many drunk people post daily. Many of them have unlimited smerits to give to others.
1/ write ONLY optimistic predictions (the crazier the better). For example: if you think BTC price will be 15k next month, write 75k instead.
2/ posts do not need to be constructive or smart,
keep it very simple but extremely BULLISH (key word here) so you can have more success.
3/
ost GIF or a meme, some funny stuff, or again some very bullish stuff. A meme or GIF #TOTHEMOON can be very effective.
4/
the easier to understand, the better. And the shorter the better. Remember this is 2019: short attention span era.
5/
post more during drinking time (typically Friday and Saturday night, but I guess Thursday also works). Many people tend to be more generous when drinking.
And in the end, a
very precious information:
if you are smart enough you will do good (maybe smart is not the appropriate word but you get the point).
I really don't see what would this forum gain from increasing merit and activity requirement 2x.
Maybe avoid such situations as thoroughly explained by Bossian? But of course, not 2x.
You are taking things to extremes, using one way way above average member as an example. Equivalent of that would be using bounty hunter shitposter with 400 activity, 5k posts in Bounty section and 0 merit as an example how hard it is to reach Jr Member rank.
Lol as a matter of fact that remembered me of something:
6000+ posts and 0 merit...and the winner 🥇 is.... But I see that guy
Rimidalv managed somehow since then.
Indeed I took an extreme as an example. But did you read also that extreme's suggestion? Meaning what I quoted from nullius.