Yes you're right, the very tip top obviously makes more under n^2 (which was even tens of thousands in a few cases). I guess I was responding to his broader point of it being possible for authors to make a lot more than now under a more functional system, and I do absolutely believe that to be the case.
RE: Hardfork 21 - Steem Proposal System (SPS) + Economic Improvement Proposal (EIP)