No actually the opposite. It is far easier to open an account now using the Resource credits.

In the last two years Steemit has had some issues with bandwidth so this isn't new. If you are a new user you have certain restrictions regarding the number of comments and votes allowed per day.

This is nothing new except for the new users recently have been spoilt with limited votes but unlimited bandwidth. You could post and comment as much as you liked. that has now changed slightly but there is still room to grow and power up. It takes months to get established and if you have been on here for 6 months and are now struggling then all I can say is maybe you have done something wrong or haven't built your following right.