Another idea is to get back merit rewards. Like spending 2 merits, the receiver will get 1 spendable merit. And the sender will get back 1 merit to their profile. And both should be spendable merits. But if this is implemented, users will reach fast to the next rank. Then the merit limit for rank-up should increase as well. For example, Hero members need 500 merits now; if this is implemented, they should have 750 merits for Hero ranks.
MusicallyBasically I would have called this
a merit system rework but it wouldn't actually seem fit since Theymos mostly uses the phrase "merit system rework" for actually making little changes to the merit system like adding new sources and removing old ones. In that case it would be fit to use the phrase "changing the entire merit system" in a case like this you are referring.
Users must be forced to spend their smerits as well to reach the next rank. If he/she needs 500 merits for Hero rank, he/she also needs to spend 250 merits to achieve Hero rank.
This would remove the freewill of sending smerits. As long as a user is not farming accounts or selling merits it's fine. Forcing users to spend merits to rank doesn't sit right with me.