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Anyone else is invited to chip in with a suggestion or an interesting question !
How about if N-days have passed and the puzzle isn't solved yet, open that round for all ranks instead of just newbies?
You can decide on the number of days.
I think this is a good intention and Rizzrack will support your proposal.
I like the idea of a thread like this, allowing beginners to learn something new about crypto. And as a bonus, get merit, which will also encourage them to be active. But most importantly, this interactive format allows to involve beginners in bitcoin world and allows to practically contact with it. It also has informational benefits for everyone who follows similar activities and reads the topic. Something similar is implemented in topic
[Merit] Hey Newbies! Can You Sign A Message?. I hope there will be more such forms of active involvement of newcomers in the future.