There is actually no need to rank up. The lessons one could get as a newbie are precisely the same lessons a jr. member, full member, and even a legendary member could have. Moreover, there are no sections, boards, sub-boards, threads, topics, and so on that are restricted to lower rank members. In other words, if you said that you were addicted and has improved because of what you've read, then rank is immaterial. You don't have to post a lot in order to access the next interesting thread. Why does it have to be a disadvantage if your activity is low? Unless if you are looking forward to the day you could join signature campaigns, but that's not what you are talking about here, right?
There are, both Serious discussions and Ivory Towers that are accessible to both Members and Full Members onwards respectively.