Also, what is your vision for the blockchain...I am interested in your overall view.....
Hah, man... such a big question and I could probably spent far too much time writing about. I'm assuming we're talking about the Steem blockchain here?
To try and keep it short: I think Steem (the blockchain) has far more potential when it's not just a single website. Bitcoin wouldn't be where it is today if everyone had to use the same app to participate. Everyone using Bitcoin has a choice in software and platform, which makes it way stronger than if it were just one.
These same principals apply to Steem, except in addition to providing a way to transfer wealth (token transfers), Steem can also be used to communicate with other users. Currently steemit.com focuses that form of communication on blogging, and I think another valuable form is discussion. We also see people developing image sharing, chat, Q&A, video streaming, and other forms of communication, all using the same blockchain to communicate with each other.
Having a decentralized and permissionless social network like Steem allows for all of this, which just can't be contained within a single "thing".
Ah excellent. I can agree with that vision. It makes total sense. I am with you about the one entity being the only way. That is what we see in the present siloed internet. Blockchain allows for permissionless development that could adjunct whatever else is out there. I do agree about the discussion...I think that is more important that simply commenting. Steemit is the first one I used followed by busy.org because I got frustrated with losing posts on Steemit (they might have resolved that).
Since I like your philosophical approach, I will do what I can to help. It is important to get more development on the entire blockchain, not just one particular app. Realistically, steemit could fail while the blockchain explodes.
One other question that I want your point of view on: what are your thoughts on SMTs?
No one wants to see that happen, but you're right - the more apps, the more resistance we have to failure for Steem itself.
I think they'll be a nice addition to Steem and I definitely want to explore how best to integrate them into projects like this. It definitely adds a different dynamic to things and I still haven't figured out what kind of impact it'll have overall. I tend to learn best by doing, so I'm waiting for some SMT test stuff to dive in deep.