How about we actually address the real problem: the blockchain protocols that created the current shit show?
I'd really love to witness that change @ats-david, but I guess if Steemit, Inc had any interest in fixing steemit.com they would've taken according actions. We're doing circles around the very same issues since months.
In that context I always remember those words from Ned during the 'blocktalk' two months ago (Source):
As long as steemit.com is not dwarfed by other applications built on the Steem blockchain, Steem will never be able to succeed.
From that point on I stopped worrying about steemit.com because I realized that it's not a priority anymore. Yet I never fully understood their reasons. As you perfectly described, it's not a superficial issue but the consequence of a lacking governance.
The larger stakeholders would tell you now: Wait for Hivemind and SMTs. But then they don't tell you how long you need to wait...:-) Communities were announced in January 2017 and planned to be implemented in Q3/2017.
From my point of view, to abandon steemit.com and focussing on something completely new is as if someone wanted to fix a broken relationship by having a baby. How could an additional project built on the very same unstable ground, have a chance to succeed?
I've been powering down since November 2017 for the simple reason that I don't agree with how Steem is governed, and I never regret my decision. Since I only engage with my own community - both on the blockchain and on discord - I also sleep much better :-))
Now I perfectly understand your will to change something, I've been on the same track for months. But then there is a point of time when you realize that you're trying to fight against windmills...
Have you checked EOS.io already?
See you around 👊