My first instinct is telling me we should keep the inflation for the reasons of RC distribution.
The SCOT or SMT token won't be doing what STEEM is doing. STEEM dictates how much Rc's you can use on the network and neither SMT or SCOT tokens can provide that.
I think it's wise to keep that distribution going even though people might not know they are earning a little bit of STEEM on top of their SMT or SCOT token.
RC pools can help new users operate on Steem without having RC's but I think through earning STEEM in the background on top of their SMT or SCOT token they will we able to become independent of these pools and that is very beneficial for the user as well as the pool.
Example:
Let's say you are a new user and get 1000RC's from the pool and start posting and doing your thing. Once you reached a 1000RC's on your own account you are cut off from the pool and on your own. Now the pool can use the RC's to help someone else.
I'll think about it more but this is my first thought. I have to go to a party now. I'll check later tonight.
I think I understand the point you're trying to make. My opinion on that is the following:
RCs are a reason for people to buy STEEM, which is good! Author inflation isn't necessary, nor desirable for people to gain enough resource credits. Inflation will always result in selling pressure, but we need the opposite - buying pressure. Now, if you want people to gain more RCs over time, then increasing the inflation for stakeholders is the way to go, because it incentivizes people to buy Steem and hold Steem.