<p>Meta is a site like all the other main sites: it's hard to really participate just by lurking.  If you want to participate: prove it.  The bar is very low, just fifteen points to vote up.  You can achieve this goal with just a handful of suggested edits or good-old-fashioned questions or answers.</p>

<p>But in a sense, you are right.  On meta sites <strong>except</strong> this one, your reputation is shared with the main site and so for example you can vote on meta.programmers.stackexchange.com if you can vote on programmers.stackexchange.com.  That's the normal model: even if you never ask or answer any questions, you can still participate by lurking on the per-site meta.</p>

<p>For historical reasons, and because meta is the meta-meta of all sites, reputation is not shared with Stack Overflow.  That is a slight disadvantage but, as you mentioned, is partially addressed by earning only 200 reputation on any other site.  In that case, you immediate earn these privileges:</p>

<ul>
<li>edit community wiki</li>
<li>set bounties</li>
<li>talk in chat</li>
<li>flag posts</li>
<li>vote up</li>
<li>create wiki posts</li>
<li>remove new user restrictions</li>
<li>participate in meta</li>
<li>comment everywhere</li>
<li>create posts</li>
</ul>

<p>and then even "vote down" is only 25 points away.</p>

<p>So you have two choices:</p>

<ol>
<li>participate to earn 200 reputation on any other site to get these privileges "for free"</li>
<li>participate here to earn enough points to acquire the privileges you desire</li>
</ol>

<p>If you want to go the latter route you can start with this:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/44188/how-do-i-participate-in-meta-stack-overflow-and-not-die-trying">How do I participate in Meta Stack Overflow and not die trying?</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Is this fair?  I think it is because the points are there if you are willing to work a little.  So get out there are earn your fifteen points!  One upvote from me.</p>