But the more I do look at them, the more I do see them more as closed circles.

Agree 100%. I noticed recently that bots, although are no longer accepting payments for their votes, they kind of upvote pretty much the same posts. They might have some users on auto vote, or not, but sometimes I am amazed to see what payouts some posts have, posts that clearly didn't require too much work.

From my perspective an influencer on Steem has to have a bit from everything. Attractive posts, engaggement, Steem Power, real followers and to be active on other social media platforms as well, or to have a broader way of expressing rather than just about Steem.

I might sound weird but sometimes I feel like some users in here are acting like cult members. Man, there's life outside Steem. Yes, the blockchain and its apps are good and I am glad I am using them almost daily, but they have flaws as well and there are already similar projects out there.

I think balance is the key in everything. You kind of have to have a bit of everything to be an influencer. Juts one quality won't make you one and neither just quantity. Steem is still in works in my opinion, although Steemit kind of left us alone, and these works have to be made at a faster pace.

Social media platforms based on rewards, cryptocurrency rewards, and even some created on blockchain technology are starting to increase in numbers and if Steem doesn't keep the pace, will be left behind.

I am using publish0x as well for about a month and I am amazed how many new users appear almost weekly over there as well. Most are Steem users, but the trend is clear. The social media is going through a revolution.

Sorry for this too long comment...but the post hit me with the topic, as I wrote today about youtube in comaprison with dtube and threespeak and the decentralized nature of the last two.