Yes. A couple three or four hours work for $.37 is, well honestly , kind of stupid. Certainly if someone has better, more profitable things to do.
What I have seen (and has been commented by others) is that there really are not many followers following. I have 900 followers and about 20 of them are actually still around and honestly following. About 2%. I suspect most accounts not plankton and not whales, have a similar percentage. With lower vote values and less people voting it just seems like starting over.
I keep slogging on, focusing on other things then blogging that do bring rewards my way.
Hope you have a profitable break and a swift return.