Except that they shift those rewards that are being removed right up to the top-earning posts, correct?
No, they don't. They reduce the eventual payout of the one post which results in more remaining in the pool. That larger pool then results in marginally higher payouts of other posts.
RE: After dedicating 5.5 years to Hive/Steem, I've been informed by KING ACIDYO that I added no value