I don't agree that a superhero combating three white minions at level 15 should be equivalent to fighting three white minions at level 50. The superhero will(should) have many more ways of dispatching those minions at level 50. Thus he should be able to take on more of a challenge compared to his level when he is a fully developed, in-his-prime, level 50 superhero than when he is a wet-behind-the-ears, just-out-of-hero-school, low level superhero.
Would the rewards for leveling up your hero be as gratifying if the only results is that you can keep you head above water when fighting even con enemies? Or is the development of an elite, high level hero worthy of more than doing the same stuff, comparatively, he did at the beginning of his career?
I choose the latter.
Remeber we are talking about minions, not Lts. or Bosses here. There is a big difference between these anonymous flunkies and their superiors.