@stellabelle, you have spoken exactly the threats that are affecting our beloved blockchain. Well, for me, Steem World has always being a place for me to affect lives and for my life to be affected by others. A place to learn and enjoy a screen book!, a place to read about others view of the world around them, A place to CONNECT, that is what I see as eSteem!. I read the welcome page when I first got into Steemit, it says

Earning on Steemit
The best attitude to have is to expect to make nothing. Have fun. Get engaged. Make friends. If along the way you earn something - bonus!

That is what the steem blockchain is to me, and I believe that is what it was intended for, let our concentration be directed to great content and forming a social-friendly base rather than $$$, We need Reputation most!. Thanks for your post.