Normally newbies who just join this forum are been attacked by those that have been here for long and secondly the rules and guidance and where to post and not to post and gaining merit .
Maybe if you complain less and understand that, aside from accounts that where on here before the introduction of the merit system, everyone started on as a newbie and now, most of them have attained desired ranks on the forum, you would find it difficult to know it’s by your effort or improve yourself if you don’t come by that realization.
One thing I would say to you now is that, complaints such as these gets you no where. Instead, redirect your effort towards being the best version of you that you can be and keep adding values to the forum.
I don’t see the forum to have been hostile towards newbies. At most, they are often treated like dummies and always in a bid to help and also, very welcoming when they create one of those “I am new here thread”.
On the issue of merits, you don’t get to decide. On the area of where to post, should a comment box be open to you, your good to go.