I really do feel sorry for anyone who thinks that $5 makes someone "rich". I'm sure half of the people complaining about it being a lot, are the same people who feel the need to go out and get the latest phone every year or eat fast food multiple times a week. If $5 is a non meaningless amount to someone, then I think they have worse things to worry about other than what minor features they lose out on for an online store.
There is far too much speculation on your part to make what you're saying relevant. You can't place your subjectivity on $5 and then stand a universal point up on top of that.
As others have stated it isn't just the amount, it's also the potential hassle a monetary transaction and the requirements that come along with it.
the choice is continue to have peoples account hijacked or limit accounts to block bots.
I honestly don't believe that. I am no expert in large-scale account management but there is always another way to solve a problem. This is the one they stopped on. Perhaps it is the most plausible. I simply don't have any evidence to believe that. If steam was always pay-to-participate I would be interested in whatever free offering was out there. It's just not my thing, I don't like spending money. If I want your service enough, sure I'll pay, but that's not the case here for me
Who is "us"? It's not going to cost me anything, nor the other people in this thread who are saying they're fine with the restrictions. Hell, if you can organise for someone to give you money to buy a game on their behalf it's not going to cost you anything even if you never ever want to pay for something on Steam.
Where did you get "us" from?
If you're asking who's not OK with the new restrictions, then me. I like posting on the forums among whatever else they restricted. Anyway I'm not too invested in steam or this thread, I just wanted to point out its not as peachy as you guys want to jump up and make it to be. And I understand my opinion on it is incredibly unpopular. Not to get off topic but 'm gonna go get blazed and boot up PoE