Might I suggest changing this? My reasoning for Meriting Newbies is quite simple: the Merit system was introduced to stop spammers. If a Newbie isn't a spammer, he shouldn't be restricted by the Merit system. That means my "standards" for Newbies are lower than for others.
Both Bitcoin and Bitcointalk can't grow without new users!
Besides, holding newbies who are new not only the forum, but quite possibly Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies in general to the standards of others users is a little unrealistic. Plus, I believe progression is a big motivator, hence why we track progress in most industries. If they are receiving merit, they'll get the bug, and want to earn more, which will likely encourage better quality posts.