3. Is there an upgrade option (paid in BTC) to reach higher member status?
Lol. If that way is existing and implemented very long time ago already then for sure most of us here are Legendary members now 
. Well, like they've said, there'z no other way except from getting merits. So be a good member and create helpful/informative topics and posts as much as you could so that you will rank up.Hi, you're wrong. From what I read it's true he can upgrade to member rank by purchasing cooper membership here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=credit;promote (Paid in BTC)
He doesn't mean the "highest rank" but "higher rank"