I agree completely. I suspect that Larimer's own susceptibility to mammon and pecuniary focus factored into the susceptibility that Steem features to the same forces. I note that EOS has increased those susceptibilities, insofar as I have any grasp of EOS, which is as limited as I could make it.
The fat lady ain't sung yet, and Steem could still rationally redirect the incentives in the code to bring social interactions to the fore, and allow natural growth to produce healthy and productive capital gains to result from social benefits Steem creates, which I intend to await while that remains possible.
Things can seem impossible and utterly ignored until they suddenly happen, which is basically life in a nutshell. All of us are doomed to be food for something, and it's amazing we have enjoyable quality of life at all given the incredible array of things ready, willing, and able to eat us.
Also, I like posting here, and enjoy the content that challenges my grasp of reality, as well as the insightful criticism wiser folks than I can provide that enables my grasp to grow. I wouldn't even mind Bernie's flags if he'd add constructive criticism. However, rabid ad hominems are almost all I've ever seen from him, so prefer flags in silence.
Anyway, if Steem never pulls it off, either something else will, or we'll all go to our dooms without that transcendent social network that could be. I don't need lunch money from my social interactions, and wish more folks saw social networks as the more valuable wellsprings rational people seek than as ATMs.
Thanks!