This thread reminds me that over time I learned the meaning of "cycling merits".

I am one of those who hardly gives merits to lower ranked members and I have sent and received many from higher ranked ones.

Mind you, when I was a lower ranked member I did receive many merits from higher ranked ones.

I simply believe that there are few newbies and lower ranked members that stand out but when there are they receive a lot of merits, look at the case of n0nce for example.

So, this does not worry me nor do I see it as a problem unless we start from the socialist assumption of trying to equalize everyone, which is precisely the opposite of what the merit system intends, which is to recognize those who deserve it the most.