Hmm... there is 7+ billon people on the planet. And only under 300 million STEEM. If you need to get 50 STEEM to interact with a platform, it's makes STEEM just a tiny elite club. Not a social media for masses, or "blockchain of opportunities".
People not mind to pay cost if they do not know about it. But if you charge them with a obvious paywall (even of it actually cheaper that way) - people get upset and get out.
The masses was 1900-2000 Era. The masses are no longer needed to create massive wealth now.