[LGM]

I think SJ was trying to point out that you can maintain a much bigger fleet for each point of maintenance at lower levels. 6% to 5 % allows a 20% bigger fleet. 20% to 19% allows a 5% bigger fleet. The decrease in cost of maintenance is linear, but increase in maintenance capacity (measured in ships) is better than linear.

Before the 5%, pre modified minimum, the game would let you go to 0% (Maintenance Free), an ability people abused (including myself). 3% to 2% allowed you to increase your fleet size by 50%. 2% to 1% allowed you to double your fleet. 0% maintenance limited you to the game's ship limit.