In overall, current merit system needs some significant changes and improvement, we shouldn't stuck on old, first model because time already show us what's happening around it. For example, merits mustn't be given on local boards cause people here think like: Hey, this guy is from my nation, let's unite and help each other.

Merit has turned into business, some guys have tons of merits on local boards where foreigner has no idea what they talk but they don't have any merits on traditional/global boards. Some people even just directly ask for merits to strangers... I think such people should be excluded from merit system, which, as a result cause stuck of their rank.