The whales have a vested interest in all users. Without minnows the entire system would collapse. New users are not silenced, but have to consistently make good content to be noticed. Usually new users try a solid 2 or 3 posts and get frustrated and switch what they are doing. I started at the bottom like everyone else and learned from the many posters before me and networked to meet new people with similar interests. If steemit collapses, those with much invested have the most to lose. So I believe they are thinking up ways for everyone to have a bigger voice regardless of their current size in the ecosystem.
And before it finally collapses, they have a method for making tons of money off the ponzi scheme.
Minnows won't notice until the platform is already dying. Oh well, no skin off my back.
Enjoy your spam platform :)