Bitcointalk simply doesnt provide incentive for people to bother with it now for varying reasons.
That's because new users don't want to put in any effort and want to go straight to picking the apples from the highest branches. It doesn't work like that in life or on the forum. You want your rewards, do the work just like everyone else.
Speaking like someone who had a merit giveaway thread (that died do to inactivity) and I am currently posting riddles where I ask Newbies, Jr., and Members to solve them in exchange for some merits for the best answers and the possibility to learn something, my opinion about those lower ranks is that many don't deserve the effort. Some do, but most don't. When there is an initiative to help them, they couldn't care to take part, when there isn't, they complain why there isn't one.
Primarily this is financial but also even in terms of being an information source.
I guess it depends on what kind of information you are looking for. I find Bitcointalk useful for finding out everything new that is happening around Bitcoin. Since I don't care about alts, ICOs, DeFi, and stuff like that, I don't go looking for news about that. There are also many local forums here that keep you informed about what is going on in your region. I find that very useful.
Merit killed bitcointalk because the only thing bitcointalk offered over reddit or any other crypto related platform was the ability to earn.
You can still do that. Just look at all the signatures underneath the profiles. All of them are paid. You just have to make an effort to be accepted in a campaign.
Once the centralized self serving merit system was implemented it destroyed the feeling of opportunity and free speech for most new members.
As long as free speech doesn't go against the forum rules, nothing is stopping you from speaking your mind. The fact that you are not banned and still posting, shows the forum has free speech.
There are now zero outstanding characters here, good or bad (.. well maybe 2 or 3 exceptions so not zero). Just a bland bunch of non achieving low level grifters and their ass munchers. I mean I often read the board but nothing happens or is said that is even interesting in a bad way.
That's the way you see it and I am not going to try and change your mind. Why don't you take part in a civilized discussion about Bitcoin or the technology for once? I don't think I have ever seen a post of yours that isn't negative.