You sure that it is pennies? I have to tell you sadly, that is not always the case. Steem is really hitting us with the rounding lately...
This second a vote that give 7.7 SBD and 70 cents refunds, meaning 5 SBD got that users $9.30 in upvote, not bad imo
Yes, and with the price of steem falling, it is making things more difficult as well. If the price of steem were to go up, you could distribute the same dollar mount of rewards while using less voting power.
Which means.... we need to get that price of steem up! ;)