Its only for new growth accounts going forward. Since the network shrunk with the PoW miners going away, they need more nodes to keep security up. Do you disagree?
I disagree with the decision that punishing as a means to an end is the right way to do do it. Instead, it should be incentivized.
I agree with the fact that the network needs more nodes. But, even more importantly, it needs a better distribution of wealth between nodes. (PoS) minting nodes however don't contribute to security such as (PoW) mining nodes do. Mining requires to run a "full node" while minting doesn't, and there's no incentive to do it. Users/holders/minters mostly run "leech nodes" which is shit for decentralization, especially if the currency is not mineable.