An informative post again. Right, when the price of HIVE hikes, less HIVE coins are distributed; and when hikes vice versa.
I have never looked from the aspect you mentioned above, buying a TV or a laptop with the curation rewards in a year. This of course induces the feeling of getting bang for buck. To me, firs is to take part of the HIVE blockchain and enjoy, the rest will come out somehow. As you say, as I always say; HIVE is a long term investment.