This is an incredibly important subject to discuss. @kevinwong , and some excellent points, @trafalgar

I think something like what @exyle explained here is going to happen eventually.

This way to go is placed somewhere in the middle: The big guns here will start financing / supporting projects instead of individuals. Projects that could give them a nice ROI, compared to selling upvotes. A REAL, LOGICAL OPTION for them to invest in. And these projects will benefit individual creators in different ways. They could be a middle ground: Good for the whales, good for the minnows.

No more "doing it for the right reasons" or "your quality does not deserve it!" or "effing trending page!!"

Unless they really re-think the curating system and make it actually worth it against the alternative, I think this is a more down-to-earth solution.