The value of steem is subjective. If you look at it financially - it probably averages quite low. The same thing could have been said of youtube at its inception. Steem is not just a currency. It is a way of doing things. I have suggested that the local newspaper change its online content to the steem blockchain. Not only would it reward its viewership for reading their content but also create a revenue stream for themselves. Since it is on the blockchain, it may interest readership in other parts of the world. This would transform a newspaper from declining membership in its paper market and a non-starter in its online market to becoming a leader in the industry.
A second area that I find quite valuable is that it gives me an outlet to practice creating well reasoned out thoughts. On a daily basis the average person becomes more of a receiver of content (Netflix etc) but social media gives people an opportunity to create content. The curation of Facebook, Twitter etc is false - their is truer value on steem.