The bottom line is networks cost money to run and this is no different.
@taskmaster

      There's no bottomline 
               without a topline.
      That topline stems  
               from DAU.

The bottomline

1. Is Steemit delivering what it says on the tin?
2. Has Steemit's deliverables been communicated?
3. a. Does a freshly minted Steemian understand this?
4. b. Who specifically within Steemit corporate owns this?