This is the consensus layer, which is the way things get built. Users can and have affected this.

If this is the consensus layer then we are talking about running a witness outside the 21, which probably is what we can assume what we both mean at the moment. If there was no big change while I was away, then every witness outside the top 21 are as stand in witnesses. They either get no rewards or very low rewards. This is what makes hive not decentralized, because 21 witnesses are doing the consensus while the other witnesses are backups. Only 21 witnesses will keep accruing more Hive, so the rich get richer. While the poor literally get poorer, because they have to pay electricity bills and have zero to non incentive to spin a witness node.

That would be the decision of the stake, something most stake won't make, since they don't have to and, can earn more voting manually if they choose. Your point is a non event.

Back in my day in OCD and curie, there were only 3 to 10 people who determined what gets a vote. I am pretty sure this is the same for other curation guilds. You don't agree on this?

Not it is not. It is based on centralized algorithms optimized for a pay-per-click model for advertising revenue.

It is a mix, but true viral content can't be paid for. And this is the same as in Hive. But the problem is nobody is really incentivized to create good content for the masses because, the rewards are determined by big curation guilds and whales.

So far, what you have mentioned sounds very much like someone who hasn't spent much time here and, someone who isn't actually interested in the future of the industry.

This is the third time I am hearing this. You would be surprised how much I care about the future of blockchains, and good blockchains in their nature have a good incentive system + community. Neglecting the economic incentives part is the same as neglecting throwing away a blockchain. Which I see many hivers do, they are focussed on "community", it is important, but if the incentives are not there your community will not stay.

Can I turn your comment around and say: it seems that every outsider is told by the hive insiders that they don't understand the hive blockchain. People even use this argument to Dan who was the whole architect of this system (see the video if you havent). What if you have been in an echo chamber because you haved lived too long in the community, and you can't see outside? Can you truly say you see more than me, if you haven't ventured into other blockchains other than Hive? Unlike me who ventured into other blockchains and made buck there, and I probably didnt make millions by luck. I know the answer to this question, as lived a long time in this community.

I don't see any long position in Hive, and it just saddens me to see people like you putting so much effort into this chain, while you would be better economically off (and probably community wise) on other chains.