i feel that if steemit positions itself as a high quality content publishing platform it could really hurt social networks like FaceBook with respect to content. the system of integrated rewards can be introduced by FB very easily and it is anyway not our USP. Steemit is unique because it is attracting content creators.
FB did both and paid the price because often enough only the lowest common denominator makes sense
if steemit is owned by millions of content creators, we work with each other to polish the content and attract external consumers of the content as a publishing powerhouse, then we will create a niche for ourselves that will expand with time to encompass all content.