All the merit system really did was promote the cookie cutter mentality more so than specialization.
No it is the opposite. If you already had cookie cutter mentality, you had no options for merits. I've always merited the things I want to use over the things that everyone thinks should be used. I play for fun after all, and not to be best.

Personally I think this game needs more freedom with merits. I want to put all 15 in staff. Why can't I do that? Why should I have leftover merits just because I do not want to play all jobs? The game should be designed for people with different minds, not just assume everyone thinks exactly the same (unless you want to make a cookie cutter game)