Are you sure that Vlad is a merit source? I asked him once, out of curiosity, and he seemed that he didn't even know what a merit source is. I had to explain him. He told me that when the merit system was implemented he woke up with a considerable amount of sMerits and that was it. Although he didn't explain very clear (as he seemed somehiw unfamiliar with the subject), I understood that he is still using the sMerits from his initial airdrop from 2018 
Maybe he meant something else but this is what I understood.
And I asked him after seeing this topic: Merit abuse by a Legendary. But even there, nutildah stated at some point that he isn't a merit source, that's why I asked about that.
Maybe he meant something else but this is what I understood.And I asked him after seeing this topic: Merit abuse by a Legendary. But even there, nutildah stated at some point that he isn't a merit source, that's why I asked about that.
From observing carefully the merit system since inception it appears you can do what you want as a merit source other than merit your own alts or accounts where there is strong compelling evidence they are your alts
Or
If you apparently say you will award them to those who share your board politics even if you award them to objectively valuable and insightful posts.
If they are your earned merits you can do with them anything you want no restrictions?
If they are airdropped merits aka pre merit system based on rank then what rules see there?
Really all legends should have been made merit source and removed for abusing it. Rather than make is super centralized from the outset.