The forum merits is one of the biggest admin mistakes, they are 100% useless, ( for example, forum member with IT higher education will almost always be step higher than any other member with just home made IT knowledge, so how can home educated forum member can give merits in IT field to member with university education ).
Firstly, the forum merits system is not a mistake or should I say is never a mistake and can never be. Thymos and co knew what they are doing, they had put in all methods of thinking before implementing the rules for merits and it has been working. If it has not been working or useless as you said, you wouldn't have gotten any merit except you where merited for the wrong reason that's the only way you can not notice that the merits system isn't useless.
Secondly, in the aspect of technical know how, it doesn't matter the educational qualifications of any member or how any individual got their knowledge in this forum it all depends on how good you are and how you can contribute to conversations and make a difference that is the subject matter of quality posting and the merit. Whether you are highly educated or not you can make good contribution it doesn't matter the IT knowledge you have. I guess am the youngest in this forum but does that mean I can not do well here? No. I'm even doing better than I thought so it depends on individuals decision whether to do well or not.