The fade also happens because the amount of Steem that can be given out to authors/curators is a set amount.
This is actually incorrect. The system is always creating new STEEM.
As more posts are created/upvoted, the less your content is worth.
This can be true, but only if the number of rshares being distributed increases from the level it was at.
Consider checking out this post of mine (past payout) where I go over this stuff in more detail: https://steemit.com/steemit/@shenanigator/the-ultimate-guide-to-steemit-payouts
Yes, the system is always creating more Steem, but it's creating that Steem at a set amount.
That's correct. So if rshares stay constant, the value of current posts isn't affected.
However, if more people start voting (or just 1 big whale), the number of rshares will increase and the value of non-paid posts will fall.
Agree with you. Maybe I was just not saying it clearly, but what I was trying to say you already said perfectly in your guide.
It can work the other way around too...
Let's say a post is currently worth $5. Over the next few days, new Steem is created, but only half as many people are voting compared to recent days. That means there's a lot of new Steem with nowhere to go, so it goes to the posts that already has votes - the ones with pending payouts. Now your $5 post may have increased to $6.
This isn't exactly how it works, but it's the simplest way I know how to explain it.