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it's not a (harmless) MLM (if there is such a thing) if things don't add up! it's a straight ponzi.

It was a scam!

just fyi, and as a differentiation, i wouldn't (and haven't) categorize steemit as a ponzi, just as a you-have-to-know-what-you're-doing-if-you-invest-money-or-a-significant-amount-of-time thing.