Interesting read. Thank you. The traffic metrics are very interesting... One correlation I'd like to illuminate would be one I just notice myself, but, the ratio of Market Cap to Transaction number. In other words, a division of tx number into market cap; which might provide at least a different perspective on how a coin's value relates to how many transactions they are performing. And you bring up a very valid point--what these "transactions" actually are is a different story; one which requires at least a cursory knowledge of the tokens themselves and their technologies.

I think it's interesting that Bcash (I don't mind the name, actually. I try not to let the political bs cloud the fact that, imo, that "fork" is the most similar to "Bitcoin proper" as I understand it. Now that we got that out of the way) has the tightest relationship between its market cap and its tx rate.

That could be interpreted a variety of ways. One might be the opposite tack; in other words, "Well, XYZ token (say EOS, for example) is performing n number more tx than BCH, for a fraction of the cost. Therefore, it is superior." But again, do we really know the nature of these txs? What are these blocks being "filled with" or kind of values are they producing? How closely related to the token's "actual worth" are these transactions?

I don't necessarily know the answers to these questions, but I think they're worthy of notice.

On your discusison of marketing tactics or strategies and how different people misunderstand or don't support the proper things regarding STEEM, I would agree to an extent.

You are correct that many people may not understand the semantics, confusing things like STEEM (the token) and Steemit, the social platform "application" built on the STEEM "variation" (for a lack of better way to say it) of the graphene blockchain; with which the STEEM token is a "(crypto)currency." Therefore, any application built within that same ecosystem--the STEEM blockchain--would, in turn, affect the value of the STEEM token. For me, it was actually the aspect of steemit which permitted monetary "upvoting," combined with the "cryptographic" aspects: i.e., the responsibility over one's account; the wallet features; all the various ways to parse the data--typically via neat apps built by fellow steemians such as Steem Now, Steemd, to name just a few) even, in a way, the bots (gasp!) in other words, the structure of the whole Steemit "economy". I was pretty much "sold" at first sight. But not everyone, for various reasons, apparently feels the same. (I think you hit the nail with the "barrier to entry" time/ wait--I've had pretty much everyone I've told about the app tell me they "never heard back" or otherwise couldn't get in :( . That's not good. Idk what's up w that tho lol)

SMTs or "STEEM Media Tokens," to the best of my understanding, is just one of these proposed "applications" to be introduced on the STEEM BC. Afaik, SMTs were an idea put-forth by the STEEM, INC. "team", headed by Steemit CEO @ned, which could be roughly equated to ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum BC--a way to create icos of your own and all the trappings that go along with that. In other words, STEEM's version of Smart Contracts. This, of course would be huge.

But as of the writing of this post, afaik, "production" of the SMT project it tenuous, and the source of much dispute between certain members in the community. Though I am by far from someone "in the know" about steemit or STEEM or STEEM inc's doings (one of my personal "complaints" about a decntr. system--it can be difficult (ironically) to seemingly get a "consensus" or even "objective" view about the goings on in the community.) Anyway, last I heard, ned said something to the effect that "the SMT cave is full this week" meaning (I think) that they were hard at work on the project.

This remains to be seen; and either way, I think the community would agree that a bit more communication and confidence between these cave-dwellers, whomever they are--and the community at large.