~snip~
People who would struggle to earn merits elsewhere manage to get them in those threads by saying they've done lots of push-ups and it's changed their lives, or by over-quoting in the other two threads, responding with generic messages. If those messages have bullish content or some other type (which they quickly learn), they earn merits.
I think we all have to agree that everyone has their own criteria for posts that they believe deserve merits and that there are no rules about it, and that accordingly, people shouldn't be called out for what they do with their sMerits. I personally avoid such megathreads and I don't see that it is something that should exist anywhere except on Off topic, but the majority obviously thinks differently (including the forum administration).
For example, JJG recently commented that my posts sound like nonsense (at least when it comes to WO), and do I need to make a drama about it? You simply get out of the way of the person and the matter is resolved - the forum is large enough that you can be an active member and avoid bothering anyone - at least that's my philosophy.