The value isn't in the token, it's in the community. I hope that post helps clarify some things a bit.
As to this point:
At the same time those users seem to be afraid to speak out (myself included) in fear that we will become targetted and downvoted for expressing our thoughts.
I have raised this issue as well. It's unfortunate that some here on Steem have no concern for cussing others out, attacking them personally, or flagging / spamming them because I do think it has a silencing effect. I don't know of a solution to this other than communities where guidelines for participation can be clear and those who don't want to follow them are excluded. I hope that everyone is free to express their views and they will be respected, even when people disagree.
Your comment is especially funny. Steem. It has been based for the last two years on an exclusion system that is based on power, not on wanting to participate.
Good joke. That you especially say what you say.
Are you referring to rewards distribution or witness voting or both?
DPoS is based on token distribution. Those who have the tokens make the rules and influence how the rewards distribution happens. What do you suggest that is better than DPoS that isn't easily sybil attackable?