Bitcointalk has been active for over a decade and is still getting better everyday ,Though it has some hard times like the time it was hacked and others but still yet it continues to improve. Bitcointalk has been able to stay this long and improving because of contributions from members of the Forum starting with the founder Satoshi Nakamoto and other awesome members.
there is no other forum that is as great as this beloved bitcointalk forum, the appearance of this forum from the first time it appeared until now nothing has changed but it's not that, the developers won't change that (that it's perfect as it is now).
It is a fact that Most Newbies now join Bitcointalk just to make money and this is not the main aim of this forum but thankfully you can't really earn without contributing or by breaking the rules and regulations because there are still True members watching this Forum
So my advice for we Newbies is start thinking of a way of improving this forum first before earning.
actually, I'm a little funny when there are newbies who give advice but I agree with the advice you give, without a contribution (with quality posts or helping other members) then don't expect to be able to produce your opinion and move up to the next rank. keep posting good - stable - consistent, and don't expect too much of what you do in this forum, let other members judge you.