You have a point about waiting until it's more appealing.

That's what makes Steem look like a scam to most outsiders IMO.

Yes, even when people have evidence to the contrary. When I told a close family member about Steemit, don't know what her sources came from, but she looked it up and after researching it, came to the conclusion that it was a scam. When I started making income, she continued to tell me it was a scam lol. In many ways we have earned this reputation.