There are things being done. SMTs are coming communities are developing with and without steemit, inc. The frontend sucks. Hopefully, someone will develop another one.
There always has been and will be a disparity in content and rewards. You should search for the original Steem Make-up video. :)
Yeah, I get annoyed with the whining, but I did some of it too while I was a minnow. :) I get it.
theuxyeti is working on a fuller featured UI design that he calls sweetsteem. You've probably heard of that. He's been trying to get some people who will do blockchain work so he can actually connect to it. I hope he gets it. What I've seen of what he's been doing is way above what we've got to work with now.
I sure hope that SMTs work out like they say they will. Hopefully, they're pouring in quite a bit of time and expertise on those since it's not happening here yet.