This is indeed the hidden gotcha in @taskmaster4450 's computations.
I found that getting over 100 SP was the line where i could actually start using steemit. Before than it was just by luck that i got any rewards. And now with RCs in place, it would have just been by even more luck that i got out of the bottom.
Even further, 1MV is where things actually started working for me like the system that was advertised.
Where i typically got curation rewards for voting. That i could post and comment as i wished.
So, the way i see it, things are going to be even harder for the new people. Getting to the 100 SP threshold may be impossible accept by buying. And we see that there isn't enough STEEM out there to buy. (for everyone)