busy.org gets donations, but it's not much better than steemit.com. i dont know how it could create revenue. Ads or paying for membership, much like the current traditional model. I think things will stagnate a bit until SMTs come out, and then we might see some good web or mobile apps that are built for the owner's new SMT.
But yeah it's really a problem that there is essentially no incentive to make a really good steem frontend platform right now.
And I wouldn't want ads on the site. Can't "feel like home" if there's always someone selling you something. Also, wouldn't put up any ICO garbage (like CMC does).