Members with legitimate red tag can also make quality posts and deserve merits. The trust system and merit system are independent of each other, the trust system is for warnings and information about how trustworthy or untrustworthy a member is, leaning more on matters of trade and commerce. The merit system is for quality posts, and i have read some members say you must not even agree with these quality posts to give merits to them. So an untrustworthy user (in trade and commerce) can make quality posts and should be merited for them, no less that other members, only users that post spam should be deprived of merits.
[/quote]
We are approaching the issue from different angles. While you are focusing on theory, I am speaking from the practical aspect of the matter. No matter how independent the trust system is with the merit system, they compliment each other.
No matter how quality your post is, once I see negative tags and check the reasons for the tag. If they are legitimate, I'll not send a merit to you. I believe other members of the forum does same, no matter how good you are, immediately you have legitimate red tag from reputable members of the forum, your chances of receiving merits are slim.

Since scam is not moderated, which means a notorious scammer would not be banned, that's my own means of paying back scammers. Well, it doesn't actually matter because I'm not a merit sourece.