I don't think 1000 coins as collateral for node ownership sounds unreasonable as a starting point. If 2500 nodes come online, it would only take a doubling or so of the market cap for it to be slightly profitable from the onset (assuming there are no services initially that would add to this profitability). $150 at current rates. Not a prohibitive entrance point for those looking to get in now.

Hopefully this advanced notice quells the potential for future criticism of how helium was distributed, assuming everything else goes as planned.

Buy/mine 1000 spreadcoin now, have enough to own a helium node in the future. Simple enough.