What the STEEM blockchain needs is an app that is as sleek looking as some of the newer but less well-built alternatives though. I've recently installed and checked out VERO - which has nothing to do with blockchain and/or rewards, but MAN does it look great and MAN do I wish something like that was built on STEEM.
No, Sapien and a few other upcoming social networks are not technically as well-built as the STEEM blockchain, but as long as STEEM apps look like they could have been launched 5 years ago the masses will not jump on the train I'm afraid.