I'm a little late to this party, but it's @suitcasebaby's fault - blaming newborns is ethical, right?
@tcpolymath - I'm not sure I have anything insightful to add that hasn't already been mentioned. I echo the thanks and support of nearly everyone here - no one would harbor any ill will or think any less of you if you bailed.
Even if you disappeared tomorrow, I think you've already provided an extremely positive model for what this all could look like, whether here/now or something that comes in the future. Technical/leadership issues aside, I'm finding Steemit to be quite a supportive and positive place, and much of that has to do with the little tribe that you've gathered via @themesopotamians and your philosophy behind it. Thank you.
No whaleshares from me, not at this point. I'll stick around to see what happens here. It's about personal bandwidth for me (I barely remember to check my discord - I really can't be adding anything new now) and the fact that I'm really enjoying it here. Maybe it's luck, who I'm tracking on my feed, or maybe life isn't allowing me to get too deep into the muck, but the feeling I get using Steemit is unique in my online experience these days. Actually, it reminds me of the early days of the internet, when it was all magic and generally positive. The word "toxic" has been used a few times in the comments: that's how I'm experiencing the other mainstream platforms - my experience here has been generally positive. And that's why I'm barely on those other places anymore.
In fairness, I haven't made any financial investment in Steem. I can imagine I'd have quite a different perspective or at least make the time to dig down a bit further into the details. I'm a fairly casual user and feel successful if I post 2 or 3 times a week. My investments have been time and (what passes for) creativity. In that lens, I'm very satisfied with my "return on investment" - I've become a bit of a blogger. That's new for me. I'm interacting with interesting people and even meeting some folks in real life, which I love, and again, very early internet-y. Another by-product is I feel like I'm experiencing my life and neighborhood with new eyes. Sights I've seen every day for years take on a different flavor when looked at as potential post material. Details are noticed, exploration is spurred. These are positive additions to my life since January.
I'm rambling a bit at this stage. Bottom line advice is the same I'd give myself: if you feel like being on here is soul-draining, I'd say get out while you can, with all of our blessings. Stay as long as you're able to enjoy and get something out of it.
Those be some thoughts from my sleep deprived brain. I hope all are well and warm greetings from Thailand!