Some interesting points there, all of which I also have a view on - but I am too tired right now. Heard, and acknowledged.
I have to say we don't need humility, always - and I dont see the curation posts that way at all. If you don't read curation articles, that's your choice, but if you've never read them, how do you know they haven't contained useful posts - a bit of a contradiction there haha! I find LOTS of useful posts in curations, but then, Iread them when I can. You can't find something useful if you don't read it. Oh dear. I'm going into some weird rabbit hole...
Yes, it's indeed interesting that curators are justifying what they do, because it's equally interesting that some have criticised them. That's the ebb and flow of HIVE - interesting dialogues about how it's managed. There's a place for everything I believe, unless it's hateful and vindictive.
About how curation has changed lives - that's not true at all. I see people posting all the time about their first big upvotes, and support from communities - if that's not from curation, then what is? I've also seen people write about their excitement for being featured in a curation, and that's really sweet - perhaps you just haven't read the same posts I have, or spoken to the people I have. That's fine too - we all see HIVE differently and I kinda loathe the either/or thing - do it this way or the other. Yawn. You might not find value in curation articles, but others do. Curation articles as simply funding? I don't think anything is 'simply' anything. Ours are certainly not created in the spirit of 'simply funding' at all!
Oh dear. I responded anyway - going for a nap. I'm afraid I probably haven't spoken clearly - as I said, I'm just really tired today!
Of course everything means something different to each individual. The world would be lame if that wasn't the case.
It comes down to this, if you can receive 400 votes, but have less than 1% organic interaction, it's not bringing any real value, except for the author. This happens a lot and especially on curation posts.
Of course I've read and created curation posts, which you know, but I haven't read any in a long time. I live on the trending and recent feeds. You may not realize this, but I joined Steemit in 2016. I learned early on that curations weren't a great way to find the content I want.
To sum up my take, curation posts, while highlighting individuals are not popular and actually over shadow the authors being showcased. They really don't get much of a boost if any from it and the project makes bank, from the curation posts, not the whole of what constitutes curation.
It doesn't need to be that way, but in the current form it is. An this is just an opinion.
Lastly, I see many comments praising Communities and curation, but not posts. Most of those are a courtesy and not really authentic. Many that seem authentic are just attempts to gain cred to get better votes. Not all, but enough.
Interesting! I think we are both probably on the money any way, you know. Xx