Karma is far different from Merit and as far as I am concerned, better used. Here with karma you actually earn points, 1Karma = 300points if I am not mistaken. 10points = 1Alt. So you see, it benefits but in btt, the merit is for ranking and that has led to many monopoly on the forum. I believe the altcointalks forum though may seem similar in some ways with btt, yet differs vastly in operation.