It happens.
I've spoken out on enough things here in the past and all it does is get you flagged --- and if they don't want to be public about not supporting you --- they just quietly withdraw their votes.
or they sick their unnamed army of bots on you.
And people suck up to the whales so they pile on you that way also and or THEIR support is then removed too.
I do not think it will change.
Yes, I've seen these armies of bots in action. Also really frustrating that speaking out about it gets you flagged. I agree that Steemit is likely better than mass media although I can't help but think that as more and more whales get onto the platform, things will get worse and worse.
How is it really that much better if, just as with mass media, whales on Steemit are the final ones with all the control and use it to artificially manipulate the system?
I've told them if things do not improve, they are screwing their own long term investments.
Speculation (pun?) -- is widely thought to be -- they don't care -- they will extract their money early and often, as has been done plenty and the platform as a whole is an after thought.
I have tracked some of the names, accounts, transfers and behaviour with collusion and been a victim of it also.