RE: Why is Steemit Growth LINEAR, and not Exponential?
Accounts have always been free here. I made 10 or so, lost half the passwords, gave accounts to friends, started projects with others, etc. Things continue to adjust, but right now I have the password to 7 accounts, 5 being my own, 2 being joint accounts. The blockchain differs from FB and other traditional social media in that accounts don't necessarily equate to individual humans, each with no other accounts. On the blockchain, some accounts are machines operated by machines, some are machines operated by humans, some are humans, and some are groups of humans. It's how things have been here since I started paying attention 18 months ago, and perhaps longer.
The main point: accounts are (and always have been) totally free. You don't seem to believe that, but that's true, so unless you can prove otherwise...? I've shown you my post nearly a year ago about how to make free accounts, and the method still works. It has nothing to do with spam, as you insinuate.
And again, I implore you: Start an account (or log into an existing one) with 0 SP, and see where you get with it. Hint: you will never interact with the blockchain or other users in ANY way. Even if you're a human, even if you're not up to no good, you're stuck - and you can't even alert anyone for help.
I keep saying this and it seems like you keep finding ways to not believe it. I guess I've done what I could.
They are no longer free. There is now an RC cost associated to it as there is a cost associated with just about every activity on the blockchain since the adoption to HF20.
If my assumptions are correct it would be hard to prove a negative. How about you create a free account with no cost in STEEM and/or RCs to prove your point? A screen shot of steemd.com before and after the account creation should clarify things.
All accounts created by me since HF20 have been delegated 25 SPs until they get on their feet. Two xmas present accounts were given 500 STEEM to power up to minnow level if they want. One has powered up 500 STEEM, the other 100 STEEM.
There is starting to be some traction around the idea of RC delegation. With such a system a dApp could create an account with no cost to the user, if they do not already have an account, and delegate enough RCs to use the dApp for its use/session. If you begin to see steemit, busy, et al, as just glorified dApps on the blockchain then HF20 may start to make more sense to you. If not, then no harm done.
STEEM On!!! ✌