I never knew there was some kind of security code for where and when newbies could be at any particular time. Well, most times I don't actually allow myself to think negatively about people's first appearances since there are a lot of possibilities in which one can learn something in the background before they even create an account because they have been in the background for so long.
Bounties don't help people rank up, as the only thing you could gain from them is activities, and activities alone can't rank you up to the next rank. The OP will need more than participating in bounties in order to rank up, if we are to view it from your own perspective.
Exactly another possible way of viewing it is from the positive aspect, as most people are being introduced to this forum with the information that the bounty section is the surefire way to earn from this forum.