I don't think this will ever replace my day job, not while I have to keep buying STEEM to keep my full vote at the same level. I seem to have been doing this for months now.
The Tasteem people are doing good and getting there I think. There's some entries in the current contest which have been disqualified due to the posters never being at the venue. I think the ban list will be getting bigger soon.
Some will do anything to try and make a dollar. Moderating it must be a lot of work.
It remains to be seen what the crypto markets will do. They are so jumpy and I doubt anyone can make long-term predictions.