we know that the merit system as it is today is not fair: firstly, merit will be given mostly to OPs, but less for the people posting brilliant answers ... more merit will circulate in high popularity thraeads, with lots of people reading them, but the guy that take on his time to help people that ask questions on less popular threads will never get anything.
Who is "we"?
We do not know that the merit system isn't fair, because it simply is fair. From what you're saying people that post unique OP's that are extremely popular and helpful will get more merit than people asking questions in those same threads (or other less popular, helpful threads). I do not see the problem. People that post popular, helpful, informative contributions to the forum deserve more merit than somebody that simply had a tough time understanding the discussion. I fail to see your point.
If this person is helping somebody in a less popular thread, then the person they've helped can merit them or even another user that also found their post helpful; you know, the entire point of the merit system? Merit means you've earned it through competence, if you earn less than that is strictly and exclusively
your fault/problem.
The problem will be the same in the local sections, with less trafic, so less merit points circulating.
- people will continue selling merit points. This is only the beggining.
Less Traffic = Less People to give merit = Less merit circulating in local sections; Again, where is the problem? Should local sections be given additional merit, just because they can't contribute elsewhere? Those that sell merit will be tagged by DT, will not become a significant source of merit and will disappear within 2-weeks. I've seen multiple people tagged and run-off the forum for this kind of behavior already.
If less people find your post helpful, you will receive less merit; if there's less people in that section then there is naturally less people that are able to find your post helpful, therefore you need to expand yourself to other sections of the forum if you plan to progress past the merit levels offered in the aforementioned sections. Again though, forum ranks don't even matter... Why does it matter and where is the problem? It just seems like you and everyone else complaining about merits is worried they'll never earn merit, quick tip
You are the problem if this is your concern presently.
By the way,
if you liked this post, give it a merit point! 
I'm sure that we will also see new behaviors in the near future that are really bad for the forum, like people asking for merit.
You are a cringe-machine, this is not funny. Asking for merit isn't "bad for the forum", it's just bad for the person asking for merit; they won't receive more merit because of it, and I'd be willing to bet it has the opposite effect. Behavior that is bad for the forum will naturally get scratched out by the DT members that do not allow for this kind of nonsense.
Well everyone with high account rank will appreciate the "merit system" as it increases or preserves the value of their accounts. I did not see any Hero or Legedary arguing against the merit system so far
. While the intention of the system is good, so far I do not feel it really has gotten the right traction as most members are still unaware of how the merit system actually works. I also feel if you make the effort of disrtibuting some merit on good posts you should get a small merit reward yourself.
As it is now I feel it is a little counterproductive and it might backfire as the active use of bitcointalk seems less attractive for new members.
For young members would be great incentive to look into merit if they get a rewar of 0.1 or 0.2 merit each time they give someone else merit. Not sure if that is technically possible.
