RE: NUMBER ONE change that STEEMIT needs to stay relevant in the long run!
There seem to be many people who see the problems and have some solutions. I have written on this myself - sadly one post has just gone past the 7 days but comments are still welcomed. I have also written about how someone has to look at the whole package of rules - this is a game, in game-theoretic terms, and the rules of the game will affect behaviour. But I haven't found many who can think through it in such mathematical terms. Many just feel that good content should be rewarded. I agree, but how much great content is there in the outside world?
I have just done some analysis of data and the amount of self-voting abuse is staggering - and not just at the top - the virus is spreading. Hopefully, we may be able to get enough people to make actionable suggestions to the way the algorithms operate. It is possible - we all vote for the witnesses.
While I agree with your comment about 'great content' being out there, we come to Steemit for a reason, that is "come for the money, stay for the engagement" (borrowing it from some ad of Steemit I guess).
If we were to compete on the grounds of 'content' we will have HARD time competing with Quora. That is a fact.
However, that should not stop us from trying to implement measures that will encourage Steemians to be engaged themselves and bring on more and more quality contributors knowing that quality before anything will be of primary importance.
It is a game, I agree, the one that is skewed in favor of those who arrived here early. A great parlance here would be America before Trump and after Trump. America is great not because it closed its doors, its exactly the opposite - it opened its doors for TALENT no matter where it came from and that made it great. Now those who arrived here (200 years early) feel like they OWN the fkng country and want to close he doors. Good for Canada - because they will open the doors to talent and America will lose.
Same goes true for Steemit. If we don't find ways to invite talent and keep talent, we will be left for other upcoming projects. And Steemit will be abandoned for NSFW spam!
Please understand that this is not a rant, this is my attempt to keep this platform great 2 or 5 or 10 years down the lane, not just now and reiterating that we have to implement small changes in the short run that will have long term impact on future of Steemit!