The forum admins and Global moderators have never been too open regarding these things. It is about appointing merit sources and other forum-related things like creating a new local sub-forum, banning appeal threads, etc. It's not like that they did not see the applications. They have seen the application, but they don't feel it's necessary right now. You will likely see their response once things get approved. As Icopress also mentioned in the OP, when theymos appoints a new merit source, he will look for an application thread in meta, which is why Icopress created this thread.
I think, theymos sees everything. He is the house master. Of course, he knows what's going on his house. It's just he responds vary rarely when it comes to the changes of the forum. I think, it's a way of him to choose the right candidate. Like observing a person for months or years, making sure everything is ok and then appointing a merit source. If he made this decision hastily there wouldn't be any merit source application left. Anyway, when was the last merit source appointed? A year ago? Can't remember.
I do hear stories from the senior ones here, and with my conclusion, I know that theymos is working, he is adding and removing the amount apportioned to some merits sources. His actions might be easy to know as those who are not performing their duties in this regard might have their sMerits amount reduced, but for those who are doing well, he might add if need be.
For doing this, I know he has not left the forum for once and has been reading applications and queries of people, and in due time, he will act appropriately. About the last time sMerits was apportioned, I can't remember, but all I could also conclude is that it could be in 2024 for the sMerit approval to be made known.
He has his even pattern.
will get the permission to serve as merit source in the whole forum someday 
