For the moment looks like the Reputation Level is very important and looks like it will remain like that. As you mention once you reach that stage you can upvote your post and then so many people will want a piece of that curation reward.
As i mention in the past: Rome was not build in few day and more changes will come in the future in our amazing platform.. let's hope the changes will be for all of us and not only for the big boys here!