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.
With the forum existence since 2009, it has gone through many years and eras in it history. Many things changed since 2009 in the world and the forum administrative policies changed over years too.
I don't consider those legendary members as airdropped legendary members and those members only received airdropped merits, not an airdropped Legendary rank.
Old era or new era since merit system kick-off in 2018, there are good and bad members, good posters and shitposters but you are easily recognize good posters through their posts and post history.
Shitposters can have very good and impressive merit history but their posts are shitposts, if you check.
A legendary member from old era is not automatically better than new era legendary member aka. self-made legendary member, and a self-made new era legendary member is not automatically better than old era legendary member. Posts and contributions to community make that member value here, not forum era.