RE: Why changing the N^2 is a bad choice, imo.
Currently, the whales are still downvoting/flagging, some are carefully calculating their voting power, and refraining from using all of their stake. So, whether people are for or against the change, what we are seeing is the result of this experiment still going on today.
It would be good to make the code match the intentions and not just count on this method working as we scale. My opinion is a bit mixed, as I understand those who feel this change compromises the motive to hold steem power. Yet, on the other hand, the original formula was "selected" by the development team and it skewed the power too much toward those with stake, IMO. I don't know if my own account will win or lose due to the change, but I do feel it will help us retain new users. Nobody knows until we try it.
I'd think that having the n^2 would allow the current whales to keep any prospective whales in check, and that any future attempted coups would fail.
We can see that @htooms was checked, and he had plenty that won't buy as much, now.
Why decrease the odds that the old guard can guard by making large number of votes count for less?
Doesn't that increase the odds of an @htooms being successful?
I'm told that the new curve will increase the bottom and diminish the top, but how do you think @darthnava would feel if half those rewards weren't there?
Any math you can demonstrate will illustrate better than my speculations, if you have some to show us.
I don't have the math. I don't even know if my own account will improve or decrease. It would be great if someone provided some analytical data. I don't have the skills, access to the code or the ability to "Read" it at that level.
Good luck getting those folks to take time for us, has been my experience.
I also wish they communicated more clearly.
The paradigm rewards close-knit communities, and we are outsiders to coders.
Regarding darthnava, he could easily make another post and have the same results. If the community still wanted to support it. So, that issue kind of doesn't make my radar. (not saying, I am right, I just don't find it concerning.) Someone could even make a follow-up post on his behalf if enough funds were not raised.
PS. I loved watching the community respond also.
It's true, but the lottery effect is good for account retention?