But you don't need merits to navigate through the forum. Why should there be a start up merits for newbies?
No need for free merit for starters since merit system launch in 2018.
What are they doing with it?
Newbies have nothing to do with merit because they are not allowed to wear signature, avatar and can not join in any signature campaign.
As a newbie I will encourage you to focus on reading and understanding the forum more better.
Reading and learning about the forum, its rules, and about Bitcoin, will help newbies to use this forum better, don't break rules, and are able to make more contributions through posting more helpful and quality posts.
Merits are for helpful posts and if newbies can make helpful posts, after reading and learing, they will have merits.