I partly agree with the 3 months power down. It solves a problem at investors side, but may generates a new one from the end users later.
Maybe we should distinguish somehow the investment SP from the earned SP with different holding time rules, if it is possible.
Financially, the investors' main role is that they bring capital to the system (and realize rewards), authors' one is get paid (realize rewards). Normally, we want to make it easy to bring in capital (which, as we have experienced, requires to take it out easy as well), and slow down that transactions and make them more predictable, which are mainly outgoing.
In short
- Invested SP with ~3 months power down schedule
- Earned SP with ~12 months power down schedule
Would this difference exist only to entice new investment, and reduce their fears?
One point is entice new investment with this advantage for investors, the other point is giving Steem more time for correction before it would vanish in a worst case scenario (which fact would also entice new investment).