I pretty much agree, with Bitcoin at least we know where the IRS stands to some degree. Also with Bitcoin there are exchanges like Coinbase which are regulated which convert Bitcoin into USD. There isn't a single regulated exchange for Steem that I know of and while Bittrex is semi regulated it's also the case that for whatever reason these exchanges are unreliable. Poloniex for example for a while wouldn't even let me get my Steem Dollars in and out at a predictable time and Bittrex while more reliable is still the only place to convert that I know of.
All I can say to the IRS is I'm doing my best with the information I have and understanding I have. There are more conservative approaches but those approaches are approaches few of us understand and even fewer can afford in terms of accountants and overall cost. It might even be the case with the most conservative approach that a person can owe more in taxes than their entire cash in bank income due to some weird interpretation of what is income.