It is my opinion that this is due to the new Newcomers certification.

It is quite possible. I also think that in the past a lot of accounts were created automatically by various apps. Since there are not so many applications now, such activity has also decreased.

There is clear evidence that while there are obstacles, Steemit still has a dedicated user base and potential for recovery and growth.

I agree with you. This analysis gave me more optimism than pessimism. 😃