True, many of us have off-topic even ignored. However, newbies don't and some did answer there, I've seen.
So imho OP question is somewhat valid.
I cannot be sure but I think when I discovered the thread it was not in Off Topic, it could have been moved there by a moderator. As I stated, I am not sure but maybe someone will correct me.
Let us not forget, the Wonder Work account was created on 20th May 2024 and he entered the Pizza Day contest with allegedly freshly made pizzas on 21st May 2024. This is not the behaviour of a newbie that registers on a bitcoin forum. If that is the case then it is safe to make presumptions as the account engages in other activities.
As the puppeteer operating the Wonder Work account controls more than one account and his modus operandi was to join campaigns and rank up or enter competitions trying to win prizes, the element of merit abuse remains (either hoping to receive them for creating the thread or giving them out to associated accounts).
I don't think that the problem is big enough/widespread enough to be an actual problem.
In this very case I see OP gives 1 merit / post when the lowest rank that answered has 10 merits anyway. That won't do much.
I noticed it too. However, when the deadsea33 account was caught up in merit abuse via his
deadsea33's "Complete the Word Game and Get Merits" it shows a problem no matter how small. This is a totally unnecessary manner to give away merits under the guise of it is "just 1 merit" and "it is in off-topic" and should be discouraged.
Yes the problem is not widespread but probably because of other accounts being exposed as merit cheats and it being frowned upon at the time. From experience, it is safe to assume usually when threads such as that are created there is more going on than meets the eye.