@mistermercury first of all, thanks for your contribution, I really enjoyed your point of view on this whole Steemit debacle. Your bluntness is in place because, of course, this platform wouldn't be nearly as successful without the financial incentives - it would be just another blogging platform.
It's good when people can admit that they are in for the money but at least they try to earn it from good content - I can absolutely appreciate that. And why not? Writing good stuff, interacting, reading...Steemit is almost like a second job! So why not have some perks from it?
I have been blogging for years and never earned any money from that, I never even imagined that I could earn anything (aside from a few insults now and then ;)) with my pointless ranting about mortal coil, blah, blah, blah...so I just blogged for fun. I have changed platforms several times, and now I am very new on Steemit. The difference is immense! I can constantly feel the pressure at the back of my mind (one that I never felt on the other blog platforms), that evil little goblin that keeps whispering "Post, comment, post, read, comment, post..." I keep resisting it but maybe Steemit isn't for me - I am not mentally balanced enough to treat this as a business and live with this constant anxiety :D

Anyway, I am already writing too much bullshit, great convo though :)