If you want to get merit, you must have qualifications. If senior members benefit from reading a qualified person's post, then he will definitely get merit. And if there is no benefit in reading a person's post, then how will he get merit. So it is clear that a qualified person is merit.
Not sure what you mean by "qualification", but I'm sure some users will read this as you have to have some sort of physical paper qualification to be able to receive merit, or even express your outlook on things, which isn't true. Anyone who puts effort into their posts will receive merit given enough time, and exposure. You don't even have to be particularly that knowledgeable about Bitcoin, as many users here have demonstrated.