Right! merit system can only prevent spammers to move up to higher positions in the forum. And it can not be successful on its own, need to have cooperative factors like merit abusement's reporters, etc.
The merit system is obviously a success, but I don't think it can be a solution on it's own.
there are hundreds of spammers, shitty posters work around shadow places of the forum and show their shits.
Without incorporating rank into posting abilities, spammers can still flood the board with attempts to gain merit, and to display low value signatures.
I don't think so. Everyone should be treated equally.
I don't deny the fact that real newbies have to start from zero, learn everything before matured enough to discuss with higher ranked users in serious issues.
But I think you should spend your precious minutes to think about users, who joined the forum long time ago, knowledgeable, but lost their accounts.
Then they have to (only one option) to create new account) to join the forum again and discuss (or better if help others). Is it really necessary to require them to spend at least 6 months or one year to join serious boards in the forum? Honestly, I don't think it should be like that.
Until posting on the major boards is restricted to Junior members or above, the pollution will continue. Another useful change would be the locking of threads after useless necro-bumps.