I'm a bit disappointed with the merit situation as of right now, but I understand probably improve in the future. Half the campaigns in the Services section of the forum don't use Merit as some sort of criterion to accept posters at all, and some sections of the forums have very little use of merit at all (and there's people out there that aren't aware what Merit is at all!). Merit was a great idea, I just wonder whether or not it'll actually succeed or if it'll flop.
In its present state I'm leaning towards flop. It seems to have really slowed down. If they make it sharper and easier then perhaps it'll take off. I don't know how much smerit noobs have, but I assume it's little or none and I dunno how bothered people overloaded with it can be to hand it out.
Still, early days as you say. The best campaigns will become ever choosier as people pile in.