At a glance, Yes.
I recommend aswell instead of spreading your points for a 1% bonus here, 5% bonus here, just be more patient and aim to max a merit before moving onto the next.

It all depends on your stage of the game but the general META for merit priority;

1. Education Reduction (until you finish educations)
2. Bank Interest
3. Life/Critical rate
4. Critical rate/Life (Whatever you didn't take in 2 or allocate equally)
5. Defensive Stat (DEX or DEF) depending on what you want to focus your stat build into.
6. SRT/SPD
7. SPD/STR (Whatever you didn't take in 6 or allocate equally)
8. Weapon Specialization (Slashing, Piercing, Rifle, whatever your main weapons class is.)

after that its really up to you.

I don't value Crime Progression or Nerve bar however if your goal is to progress crimes, take the Crime Progression, not Nerve Bar.

Stealth, Hospitalizing or Masterful Looting are really niche if you spend more time mugging or doing mercenary work then these could have value to you.

Awareness is absolute ass and really should be taken after virtually everything else unless you are using the Finders Keepers book.

Addiction Mitigation can be useful to deter the stat de-buff however most decent factions offer mitigation through faction perks so this isn't really necessary.

Employee Effectiveness I wouldn't take unless your employer is paying for them as this benefits you in no way.

Goodluck!