Also, do not be on this forum just for signature campaigns. Try trading also. I have a friend who is also a newbie and so frustrated on not getting merits and not getting rank up. As we all know that higher ranks give higher profits on a campaign. Yes its hard to rank up in the new system and its almost impossible for us newbies but always remember that ranks doesnt define what knowledge you have now.
As newbies, we should understand that many of the early adopters on this forum didn't join because of bounties and many of them still have the passion for which they join the forum at heart, so it will be unfair to allow the purpose of the forum be defeated because of raking higher only just to participate in bounties.
So, we have to change our mindset on the merit system, from seeing it as a total barrier to seeing it as a challenge to improve ourselves, because when newbies develop deeper knowledge, skills and understanding of bitcoins and crypto; raking higher will be like child play; I believe if you look on the longterm and patiently do the hardwork first, the money will follow.
Ranking higher might not only be good for bounties, there were days when there were no bounties and a day might come when bounties will be no more, just like there was a time when there were no merits, a day might come when something else
"maybe stricter" might replace the merits system, will we transfer our complaints to the new system then, or just learn to adapt?