Jokes apart, the merit/activity ratio is an old idea of mine, but long ago
Awww, fillippone, amico mio, I did not know about that topic of yours. Now, by seeing it, I only realize once more that great minds think the same!
Indeed, this is an impediment and it can hardly (if not impossible) be avoided by those which became Legendary members before the merit system. However, setting high goals is up to each individual and doing so, each can come close to their wishes and, overall, improve themselves. Some wish to have at least 1:1 merits vs posts ratio. Some wish to have 1:1 merits vs activity ratio. Some want to obtain Legendary rank. Some want to obtain even just 1 merit, to not be newbies anymore. No matter how others see the respective goal - as being easily achievable or not - only the fact that you proposed yourself a certain ambition may help you better yourself each day. And this is something to appreciate, no matter if we talk of new members or old ones...
Don't forget also all the dozens creating threads like "From zero to hero" It was like a mass hysteria at some point with this kind of threads. I noticed though they are not so often nowadays. Nevertheless, chapeau to those which ranked up!