I've used SO from time to time but have only participated when I came across a question I thought I could add value to with my perspective. I've never really kept up with the point system.
The author says "There's a plateau you hit there where you either have to devote way too much time to help other people do their work, or you just fall out of it." Do your points devalue over time somehow? Is there inflation in the user permissions you get with rep? Or is it just that you have to jump the shark to get the first answers in as they are far more valuable than later answers/editing answers?
The plateau doesn't have to do with the points, but rather the content. If you're going to give an answer that's worthwhile, it would be nice to recognition for it. If you want recognition, you have to go after questions that haven't been answered. A lot of those are basically doing other people's work, and not really question-answering.
The author says "There's a plateau you hit there where you either have to devote way too much time to help other people do their work, or you just fall out of it." Do your points devalue over time somehow? Is there inflation in the user permissions you get with rep? Or is it just that you have to jump the shark to get the first answers in as they are far more valuable than later answers/editing answers?