I think people are now realizing there are no free rides with sites and networks. Applications take a portion of the payouts to fund their operations. Steemit.com should do the same. I believe 5%-10% is acceptable and in line with some of the other applications.
The problem with this sentiment is that whilst other apps take commission, dTube to name but one. None of them have the ability to create the reward pool. Steemit literally prints its own currency.
So perhaps it should be paying itself from that, maybe it would amount to the same thing, however it does at least sound better.
I'm very disappointed to hear that SMTs have been all but scrapped. We've been waiting almost two years for them, however as you said, we are in survive not thrive mode.
Here's hoping other devs can create apps that will make the Steem blockchain irresistible.