What Is This Idea?
The idea is simple, reconfigure the forum, as well as the merit system, reconfigure it so that if a user does not earn atleast 1 merit in 120 days, that user drops he's current rank for the lower one, and if in another 120 days, the user still does not earn 1 merit, he or she again drops the current rank for the one lower, just like that until that user is back to newbie... This can only apply to junior Members rank and above.
Will it interest you to understand that if everyone in the forum will engage in quality posts at everything, there would be no need for the merit system
Sorry but I disagree with you, if everyone engages in making quality posts, the merit system will always be needed because, quality are of different levels, there are those that will engage in lesser quality posts while there are others that will engage in higher quality posts, while there are those that will engage in both depending on their mode, the merit system will be there to reward posters based on the quality level of their posts.
There's already a penalty, which is, if you don't get merits you will no longer grow in the forum, remaining stagnant is the price to pay.
You are also wrong here, you need merit as well as actively to rank up.
for example, a full member can earn enough merit to become a Senior/hero or even legendary member, but if that user is lacking in activity, that user will remain a full member until he or she meets the required amount of activity to rank-up, and if that user stops being active, he or she can gain 5000 merit and remain a full member forever.