The design choice to give whales quadratic (votes x votes) influence
No, the post payouts are determined by some function based on sum(votes)^2 not sum(votes^2) so user stake weights are basically linear. Post weights are quadratic giving the "lottery" payoff effect (also necessary to ensure that people who vote for themselves with no agreement from others end up losing on average), but it doesn't matter if one person votes with 10X stake or ten people with X stake.
I know you already told me that upthread and I didn't write anything intended to be contrary to that.
My point is that when you have 1 million votes, that is a trillion when squared. (3 x 3 = 9) is not 1/2 of (6 x 6 = 36). Really it's just elementary school math.
I don't understand what is wrong with people voting for themselves. If everyone votes for themselves, then all the relative holdings remain constant (proportions).