To make the story short, I was a Full member user account and now I am back at newbie user. The question is how hard it is to be a newbie again? IDK ATM... I wish I can I can rank up again.
Hey man.. welcome back to forum!
It's a bit restrictive as you may have think and nothing changes instead more strict rules are being implemented on a regular basis and if there's any need for such adjustments. Usually if you are that grounded on knowledge especially that of technical knowledge then growing up here in merits shouldn't be an issues, as I believe if you know what you are doing it would be that easier for you to rank even in less than 6 months if you know what you are doing.
Merits is only set there to push those lazy old fools who are just spamming all the boards with either scam posts, shilling or doing something that is not helping the forum for any reason or moments. Where I felt very bad was when you weren't able to remember your username. Or maybe can at least remember any bounties that you joined back then 2014/15? Since you said is been 10 years now so I assumed to be around 2013 and 2015 maybe your account could be restored tracking through the bounty spreadsheet or through POA?