Merit system wasn't a real spec. It was gated vertical progression with an illusion of choice. Here's a list of 5 spells/abilities/traits, you can unlock all 5 and spec to Lv1, or unlock 2 and spec those to Lv5(max) or a mix but the issue was everyone almost always spec'd the same because the alternatives were stupid. In FFXI, one of DRG's merit abilities was Angon, an unmissable, unresistable -25% defense down for 30 seconds at Lv1 and 90 seconds at level 5. It was so powerful that it made other drg merits pointless(enhanced their pet accuracy, or a cool down that doubled their pet's next breath spell which was literally 0.02% of the raid's dps). Any DRG that didn't max out Angon could not come to endgame content, unless it was a PUG and they lied, or there was another DRG in the group which had it.