I've noticed that too man. When I first started here on steemit it felt like I climbed up the ranks pretty quickly and easily but I guess now that there are a lot more users it has become a little less laxed. I've worked harder than I ever have on here for the past three or four weeks now, and I'm still at the same level I was when I took my hiatus. That is just one of a number of changes I've experienced. It used to be that when you were paid out for your posts you would receive some STEEM, STEEM power and steam dollars. Now it appears as if you only receive STEEM power and steem dollars. My theory for this is that instead of paying you STEEM and STEEM power they want to encourage you to keep the steem inside of the platform, thus locking it up in steem power so that it is harder to sell. If that makes sense! By the way, on an unrelated note I have a brand-new silver post on my blog I would love your input brother! :) have a great day! ~Hratch