Merit is the whole reason for DEI existing. Historically, positions of power, prestige, and high pay have been reserved for white men. They hire other white men, network with other white men, and white men recommend each others for prestigious positions. Recently, white women have managed to claw their way into these positions, too,
only to 'pull the ladder up after them' and exclude non-white women from those same positions. Given time, various minorities too, like brown men and women, will be a natural part of these environments and recruitment will be gender- and colour-blind, but right now, as we all know, networks play a huge part in who get hired. Rules that ensure diversity in workplaces just accelerates the process, with all the benefits that come with that diversity.
The analogy with the crates and the fence is actually really fitting here --the smaller kids
will eventually grow tall enough to look over the fence, but giving them crates to stand on means they'll get to watch baseball games right now.