I agree that this platform seems to still be evolving. Maybe it's different for someone who's made a certain amount of posts, but I'm pretty impressed by how much attention new users get. Usually they would be ignored altogether for months, but Steemit has a pretty robust community (one that's growing).

Keep in mind that people interested in the new topics don't yet have enough power to have an effect. In theory this will change as time goes on. Though people starting now will never be as powerful as the top echelon, there will be enough with enough power to balance out... or so goes the thinking. Again, I'm woefully ignorant and new, but I infer that to be the plan and don't yet see why it wouldn't be possible given more time.

As to the main point of the article: I'd have to say I agree. It seems short-sighted to go for the constant money grabs, if what is being written is, in fact, so.