You didn't have a high rank cause you was just a newbie! Except back in your time you were given things like "copper membership" and all that, I think the badge is newbie or brand new, right?
Buying a copper membership has been possible for everyone up from the point when it was introduced to the forum. It was not given; you paid the fee and got it with the extra perks it comes with. Anyone can pay the fee now and get it too.
What you might be talking about was that then Jr members and even newbies could wear signatures, and there was no 1-merit rule to become a Jr member on the forum.