I can not argee with you that the user base is 'quite large' nor than that it keeps growing. It has been stagnant in the 2-3k range for months, and multiple people have analyzed it and shown that a very significant number of those are bots. The true number of users is probably closer to 1000 and not growing significantly.
Neither the size of the user base nor the rate of (non-) growth are economically viable. Unless adjustments are made, the platform will continue to stagnate and ultimately fail altogether. This doesn't mean that my ideas for adjustments are the right ones, but we can't simply stick with what we have been doing. It doesn't work and won't work. I say this not to insult or disparage Steemit or the people who have poured a lot of effort into it, including yourself, but because I want it to succeed.
I know they do want it to succeed and you try your best. You are right that we need more users.
I'm just not convinced that rewarding poor quality content is a solution. There are many other ways. One of them is professional PR. There should be group assigned for making this platform heard of in crypto-community and mainstream media.
For example, we must contact crypto news sites on regular basis so they keep writing articles about STEEM just like they write about other crypto projects.
I think that PR aspect is highly neglected. We cannot just rely on users to contact media or wish that posting more content is going to attract the media.
"Poor quality" is very subjective and I think a little too tied to one particular approach. There is more than one way to interact that people feel is informative, entertaining, and generally adds value to their lives. No one is proposing or supporting worthless spam. If it isn't something that gets people excited to join and interact, then it won't add value and this initiative won't go anywhere. It is an experiment worth trying. That is not to rule out also doing other things like improved PR
I agree with your here @smooth - I thought the user base had stagnated around the 5000 mark. I think it may soon be time to get people in who know what they are doing to get the Steem valves rebored and ready to fire on a full on assault on the non-crypto market. Anything else just seems like ultimate failure like you say.
Such a crying shame for the many man hours put into the platform - far more than any other crypto apart from maybe Bitcoin and Litecoin!
It did stagnate around 5K for a while after the big surge in signups but then dropped lower to the current 2-3K. Some of that may be reduced botting/spam after the rep system, though some was very likely actual attrition due to loss of interest or other reasons. There are still many bots included in the lower figure.