Before HF20 there was a single process for creating new blockchain accounts which was equally available to all users. Besides Steemit there were six or seven services for account creation, plus the ability for users to create directly through utilities like SteemConnect and Steem-Python. The fact that Steemit did the majority of creation is because no one else chose to do it on a large scale, not because they had any special ability.
After HF20 there is a two-class system, whereby large SP holders are able to create "discounted accounts" - though they're somewhat more expensive than the previous creation system - and everyone else is able to create accounts by burning 3 Steem - considerably more expensive than the previous creation system.
This is less decentralized than the previous system because it privileges large SP holders and increases the costs of account creation.
Before HF20 there was a single process for creating new blockchain accounts which was equally available to all users. Besides Steemit there were six or seven services for account creation, plus the ability for users to create directly through utilities like SteemConnect and Steem-Python. The fact that Steemit did the majority of creation is because no one else chose to do it on a large scale, not because they had any special ability.
After HF20 there is a two-class system, whereby large SP holders are able to create "discounted accounts" - though they're somewhat more expensive than the previous creation system - and everyone else is able to create accounts by burning 3 Steem - considerably more expensive than the previous creation system.
This is less decentralized than the previous system because it privileges large SP holders and increases the costs of account creation.
You are correct about the first part. I should have specific a free account through Steemit. There were other options that one could pay for.