you are saying that higher members never gave you merit?
I go to your profile, check the created topic and reply only two topics are made, your account is registered from 2018, I have seen account made during that time and they are like full members some are sr. members, because they are focus on ranking up, unlike what you were doing, you are busy posting reports daily, without making a decent post for 2 years now, which means in those years you only made 2 legitimate posts, how do you expect us to give you merit for doing nothing, we can't give merits on that bounty reports
These few lines right there tells beginners and many others that still view bounties as the best way to go how they would virtually end up with bounties. So, the way to go here is a choice. Bounties is a part of the forum and should be exploited correct. There is nothing wrong with that, at least it's not against the forum rules but, the way it is done passes a different message of 'Oh, I'm an archiver, I know all, I'm not concerned about ranks or merits or the educating that goes on here... and more of those' so, it kind of just stops you right there. Especially with the fact that, merits are given to quality contributions, there is nothing quality or very informative to an ordinary forum user except to the bounty manager as a proof of work and that's not the way of meet and meriting. Like DdmrDdmr said,
Everyone is entitled to chase bounties here, although that does have its cost of opportunity in terms of ranking (and probably in diversifying some traces of knowledge gathered from different boards). One is also entitled to decide to pursue a change in habits, and shift their focus elsewhere.
It's all about what you choose, knowing that it has a cost that would be paid.