I really don't have much to say concerning the new merit system which might be implemented in the future.In my own opinion,I don't think this demeriting system would affect newbies that are spamming the forum with garbage,rather it's going to affect high ranked members that doesn't earn merits consistently.
You're right, newbies can't be affected because they don't have any merits. A lot of "high ranked members" are just bought or farmed accounts run by multi-accounters. These accounts will be affected more than people who only have 1 account because they're not used to spending the time necessary to construct good posts. If you can't get 1 merit for every 10 posts, I don't have sympathy for you.
Then how can you justify merit jerker? Obviously they are alt farm account that is done in legal way through merit system.
Applying this will just remove the old farm account which now few because they are already struggling to get merit while you are welcoming this new blood merit jerker which is the new gen alt farmer.
Maybe start cleaning first this merit jerker issue that is rampant on local board such as Nigeria, Indonesia and many more local that has high merit circulation?