would you mind elaborating on why merits are useless? the example you gave is bad.
( for example, forum member with IT higher education will almost always be step higher than any other member with just home made IT knowledge, -snip).
that is one of the worst examples to give. Of course, someone who has a higher IT education will probably be a step higher than someone with just "homemade IT knowledge".
so how can home educated forum member can give merits in IT field to member with university education
this is just a sad mentality, you know they can give merit to the "home-educated members" as long as they find the post is useful and deserves merit not sure why you would think they wouldn't give merit to someone who did not have the same education as them.