You are right on that, is merits system is another way building forum user confidence in given that motivation and encouragement that your doing things rightly, for me I do feel more better of when a merit source merit my post it makes me to strive more harder in learning and  making a meaningful and helpful post in other to gain more merit, merits is more like an excitement and flavour added to the system, the merits system also has a away of sustainability of respect as per hirachies, like the different ranks, the adoption of the merits system is very much ok.