The experiment has a double edged sword.

The first test is to see the effect of dolphin-minnow voting unhindered by whales.

But the second test which I feel might be hidden beneath the first (but actually the one they also care about some what) is a test on the authors.

It is a bit extreme but I think that part of the experiment is to see whether those who get downvoted continue to produce content. Remember, the whole point of the experiment is to give minnows and dolphins more power. It is not so much a reduction of payout since we know that the total payout remains the same regardless. Rather, it is an opportunity for those with less SP than the whales to wield a little more influence.

I think this can be seen two ways. The positive way is that authors should acknowledge that they still have the same opportunity as anyone else to receive votes. And for once, it'll be less skewed by whale votes.

The negative view, is that large stakeholders are testing authors to see their commitment to the platform regardless of payouts. Which in my opinion is not a problem, but only indicative of design that doesn't facilitate natural human behaviour or natural motivations.