I stumbled across one old user who had this very problem. They've been on Steemit for a long time (longer than me) and have been struggling for rewards so they entered a Steemit Engagement Challenge (they liked the topic). They were told that their entry was invalid (I can't remember why) and that they need to get validated in the Newcomers' Community. Their account had been registered longer than the Newcomers' Community's has existed. The day I'm told that I can't do something because I haven't completed my Achievements (also requiring me to disclose my real world identity), that'll be the end for me.

I was probably thinking the same thing as you and would go so far as to suggest that these "hoops" are so off putting for genuine users that the only people willing to jump through them all are the scammers.