From what I've seen those users who focus on earning merit so much that it makes merit their whole reason why they are on this forum, will never earn merits. It's simply because their posts are always clearly made to receive merit and people don't like that.
Otherwise there is no "standard" and I have to say that it is very odd that you are asking about merits and hardship of earning them after only 10 days and 10 posts from your account creation!