Some people got in early. That is to their credit. The rest of us, with some quality work, will grind them level over time. One year ago, big payout posts were in the thousands. Now they are in the hundreds. I haven't done much research on that; just quick observation.
If I am wrong about this then, obviously, the next step is to find where these people live and hunt them like dangerous animals.
I hear you. To clarify my thought, it's strictly about influencers or well-off bloggers generating meaningful and quality content, regardless of tenure. I believe that everyone deserves credit for what they've earned or obtained under any circumstance, as long as it's done the right way. Early adopters have a wonderful advantage, which I fully respect when it's not used to take advantage of a system for personal financial gain.