Generally speaking, you are right, but the problem is deeper.
Steemit is such a bad product, that people are not willing to use it even if you got paid for it.

Would you buy Yugo:

No? Ok, would you drive it if it's given to you, for free?

Still not?

If you get 100$ per day - ok, you would.

Now you can see how badly made this product is.

Just as Yugo, it was fine several years (decades) ago, but today - no