This is a very sad topic, but at the same time it is an important issue. We live in the wild west... everything is new, no rules but those implied by the system. That's why people will always try to find ways to "game the system", while others like arcange or you do it by working hard everyday, trying to bring value to the community. This honours you both. And I strongly believe this will pay out "in the long run". Unfortunately it isn't possible to live from that in the short run, neither to pay for bills or food. Seeing some earn a fortune for mediocre contributions or just for making announcements with nothing following up makes me mad from time to time, too.

You are right pointing out that @arcange in no way has to proove anything more here. He always is an extremely professional, nice and helpful person. His move to monetize his great work is fully understandable and possibly the only way to grow awareness that even in a community of "freedom" valuable services are not to be seen as "free" or can be taken for granted.

To your questions:

For me a valuable steemian is one who does not try to game the system. This includes no vote buying, this includes not to copy-paste, this includes not to take out every dime earned, this includes investing (time and/or money) and involving (not in everything, but in certain areas, where there is a chance to excel). This includes actually reading stuff, or at least following someone with a vote who does it. This includes not to take from the reward pool for curation work and finally this includes voting for others instead of 10 selfvotes a day.

You know what I am doing to retain people...

What STINC could do... well... a first step could be to communicate. (And I mean more than the divorced-couple-talk between dan and ned, and more than rebuilding a great opportunity into a pyramid scheme where only the strong survive. In short: I don't expect anything and prepare for the worst while hoping for the best...

For the last question... that's a tough one. Value is quite a subjective thing. When I see months of work going into my @steembay providing a free service for all while earning around 50$ / day for 2 people compared to some obscure guy taking out 10 000$ a day I sometimes doubt that this anytime will get more fair... on the other hand: What is the use of being bitter about it, this only eats away my good mood, my creativity and my power to keep on getting better with what I am doing. There have been times when it was a good idea to invest in a business and not earning a dime for the first several years.

Keep up the good work and don't let your head down.

Bises
Dominique