When I was a newbie, I was told that the majority of legendary members got their ranks before the merit system. I have become a legendary member and likewise many other persons, yet someone still believes that airdropped legendary members are still more than self-made legendary members.
Any data to compare both?
Actually there is no evidence to prove that airdroped legendary is more than the self made legendary but I would argue blindly that self made legendary and hero are more than the airdroped legendaries. Reason I said this is that it ended long time ago something around 2018 and most people they where just bearly sr an hero members that was airdroped and before their activities could reach 1000 it will take a long time. So they ranked up to legendary by themselves after the system stopped while some stopped along the line when they couldn't earn merit any longer on there own because they find it difficult with new merit system. So I would say that only few benefited from it but majority of the legendary where self made. The new merit system made it nearly impossible to continue because most of them where shitposter who where fortunate to have been ranked up by the system. So I can tell you self made full member to legendary are more than the airdroped members.