I want to first thank you for considering to write about this very "confusing" subject, i think i got a bit of light from it...
Witnesses are like life and blood of steem blockchain. Without them, no transaction can ever be processed; everything freezes!
This one 👆 shocked me and i hope the preceding analogy never happens (Amen).
Even though I'd require a bit more light about how steemians become witnesses and what to look out for before voting for any witness, I'd consider voting for them.
Thanks!