Yeah i agree. The thing is, if i had to pay to promote my post, i can do it on any platform, may be once i have gained enough following, the payouts are better on this platform. I dont know because i havent yet found an audience that will upvote everything i post. And since i havent purchased steem and invested here, i am not in a position to complain.

Over time, i have found 10 people who read my posts. Which is ok for me. If in a year, i can have 50, even better. I am happy with that progress. But someone preventing me from doing it because they have a way to abuse the system is complete bs. As a new user, i have to work for every cent i make.

Unless my posting actually reaches an audience of some sort, it doesn't have the capacity to be upvoted.

It will never be upvoted. The first post you make gets upvoted somehow and then everything will be covered under a pile of new posts. Which is why one has to interact with others, use other tools that support minnowse etc.

Otherwise, like I've said before, I can totally just keep writing in a diary.

I had never thought of it that way but makes perfect sense. I can interact with the YouTubers who are posting here on Youtube. Most people on this platform willl blog elsewhere if they have to depend on a audience or care about having a large audience. Else collect SP, upvote yourself and you dont care whether this platform grows or not. Users dont need to come here. There are maybe 50 people who upvote comments on this platform, rest dont even care about those reading their posts. And unless, there is actual meaningful user growth, this platform is a great way for early adopters to keep receiving steem and cashing out, enjoy the party while it lasts.

The problem i have highlighted is genuine and will only increase as the platform grows bigger. Which is why i tagged the founders. At 46 level i have no voice, but its worth trying.