Right, so as a beginner here I can't reward anyone for anything. I thought this topic made sense since there are plenty of people in my situation
You can give positive feedback to those that helped you. Shoutouts - although well-meant - don't really benefit anyone and might be considered as a form of spam. If everyone would do it, half the forum would have those kinds of threads where people pat each other on the shoulder
If someone responds with useful or supportive information to your questions or any other post of yours, thank them and maybe say what helped you. Or better yet, help others who might have the same issue. By helping others you'll eventually get sMerit to send yourself.
But you're right, there are indeed members that have merit that they wouldn't have received if they were new. Old accounts got their respective minimum of merit according to their rank, that is how they got it in the first place.
Nevertheless, have some merit and spend them where you consider them well earned.
