Being direct, honest and blunt,

ah, here is the problem in regards to steemit...

...these very attributes are seen as qualities, in the world of the meritocratic. The world I've inhabited.
( I'm even known to possess some of those, myself! lol)

They do not marry up to the qualities in the stake based, systems where honesty is seen as offensive, direct is seen a offensive, and blunt is just downright off the table...

The qualities you need here, if you want to get ahead...is playing politics...
Being sycophantic is afar more productive strategy on steemit.
Bland and nondescript is rewarded, and putting out your truth is penalized.
....it can only ever create weak structures...
I know of no historical precedent that doesn't support this. It never endures.

IF this is a weak systemic problem in steemit, I fear an inevitable conclusion.
Weak, corrupt systems always eat their selves.
Always.

just thinking out loud here...