It is simply an organizational decision.
Merging allows us to consolidate feedback for easy review. With the handy "Show me first unread post" tool at the top of all threads (as well as the blue icon in front of thread titles), it's easier to find and read feedback when it's consolidated. How will we know of various feedback that's been pushed back to page 30 (and far beyond) of general? That's what the Anti-Merger crowd didn't understand. Hopefully, the experience of the No Merger Policy has shown why such acts are necessary.

