I think the idea of "You get what you pay for" can also be applied to the earnings on Steem. People who complain that their rewards are too low forget that they haven't payed for them or not enough at least in their own money. However, those who have heavily invested into this blockchain rarely complain about it.
Funny isn't it?
The other way to look at "you get what you pay for " is from a demand and supply perspective. If you want different, demand different. Most people demand consumables that add little value to life and, there is plenty of supply. If no one bought it, it wouldn't exist.