As we prepare for a new ruleset, here are my main thoughts on the coming change, and the mindset that I have.
You still have proportional weight in influencing the rewards. Meaning, 10 users with 10 SP can perfectly counter a 100 SP user. I feel this is not emphasized enough in the various discussions.
The curve penalizes the lower end of post values, yes. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't comment. You still have a reason to comment. It's still a social network, it's how you get exposure. And voting on comments is still purposeful on more popular blogs to bump visibility of really great comments (and we should use downvotes on self voted useless comments that should be lower down). For other blogs, you can still reward them, just may want to be a bit more selective now.
Use them. If you want the most efficient use, aim at high values, especially if they have no business being there. Chances are, they already are getting downvoted, and so if you also want less risk while still doing some part, choose those that already have downvotes on them that are still too high. And if you like risk? Cast the first stone. Feel free to increase the stakes by throwing an insult in as well. (No don't be that person...)
Stop thinking of this as a personal cash cow and start treating it like the innovative networking and funding tool that it is. We're (at least I am) looking for an economy that obviously rewards value, rather than obviously rewards garbage. Value should at least go through evaluations from the crowd. One way in which that can happen is by making sure what's at the top isn't rewarded too much relative to the others. Or if you ever think "wtf is this doing on trending???" Smash that downvote button. Trending might actually mean something if the crowd starts to filter it.
The less garbage the majority stake is behind, the more that can flow to others. Curb obvious high value garbage.
Seeing your numbers get floored? You can curse the new changes, you can leave, or you can contribute to making the best of it-- stack your free downvotes and contribute to a corrective economy. And if you like, make posts that stand out. Vote others that do.
Our distribution only gets better and better, it only gets easier to curb defective whales or defective stake. The new rules also make it easier to do so.
If you think you're going to make bank by blindly following a trail, think again. Your curation is very sensitive to the order of voters. A fair trail may try to balance this out by rotating the order in some manner though, which can help. The trail itself also has to be large, as well as withstand the downvote test. If you are the head of a successful trail, then the situation is quite good for you. Otherwise, maybe you are better off being more active in your voting and finding good posts. And share your findings with other groups that may be inclined to agree.
Be prepared to look at them once in a while to see how SPS funds are being treated. Vote up any you would like to see, and otherwise vote default proposals that return funds back to the treasury.
Welcome to soon to be #newsteem. I can't guarantee that it's better, but there are new tools and new hopes. Let's make the most of it, shall we?
