Some very fine insights here. You have articulated something I was always inchoately aware of - the best are already elsewhere because they don't have to come here.

However, that's only one way of looking at it. Another way is that those old ways like college have huge big societal/personal consequences for failure. A blogger seeking to make it in what I can now call "the hard way" is operating in a pretty high-risk low-reward setting until/if at all they hit it big.

Steemit, particular;y for paid blogging, has essentially added a safety net where none existed, removing all the risks and dangers of trying to get big and/or paid via blogging in the wilderness of the internet. Eliminates advertising, eliminates the consequences of failure, lets people who were too afraid to try, try.

One could also argue that the new best, the up-and-comers could still decide to take a look at those bootcamps (or Steemit) for reasons of more immediate remuneration (or to be a big fish in a small pond, whatever)

Not to mention, it doesnt't have to be either/or. Quite a few big Youtubers relocated or bilocated to Steemit and brought their audiences with them. I see no reasons others in other fields cannot do the same. Conversely, big dogs on Steemit can use it as an incubator -- or a chrysalis -- to rise and pit themselves against the best of the "real world" or the greater wilderness.

Just my thoughts in response to your article.