Hello @blocktrades,

I am @handofzara, I have been kicking around here on the blockchain for a little over three years now. I am a "user" of this platform. I am not an "investor" and I certainly have not concentrated on anything like a "rate of return" on my investment, or any such nonsense.

If I did, I guess that my time on HIVE/STEEM has been rather poorly spent. I no longer spend anytime on STEEM, as I was banished over some silly memes about the Imperial Leader.

One thing I have done over the years is I have joined an "auto-vote" trail.

Why?

Simple, to let some of the good people I have met here know that their work is appreciated.

Stop and think for one second.

Most of the people who even bother to post are lucky to get a single vote, unless of course they "self-vote" another great EVIL (someone just stole a penny from the jar!).

If you want to expand the use of the platform, regular posts are essential. If there is no acknowledgement that someone actually gave a dang about your presence here on the platform, then why be here at all.

The "raiding of the reward pool" only matters to people looking at their "investment". No one, and I mean no one, who is actually trying to post "good content" does so thinking this is the one where I will actually earn 50 cents! Whoop!

Eliminate the "auto-voting" and you eliminate one of the few ways that actual content creators can "feel" that their time here is appreciated.

If you really want to "grow" then the concentration must be shifted to towards attracting new users and retaining new users.

When I joined STEEM, a delegation was made so I could actually use the platform and do so on a daily basis. The only way anyone can do this now is to actually purchase HIVE.

How many "new users" even have an account to BUY cryptos?

The original IDEA behind STEEM, which has been lost, was to be an introduction to cryptocurrencies.

If you would, please take a little time looking at all the new posts. What do you see?

Look very closely at the REP numbers. How many 25s do you see?

I just went through three pages of new posts and saw only one.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM!

Not someone getting $100 for a poor post, it is the new users not getting any attention!

If you really want to see the value of your investment grow, then grow the new user experience.

I have some suggestions.

First, set up an account for delegations for new users. I have a few HIVE that I would gladly delegate to such an account.

Second, set up a way to delegate RCs to new users, so they can actually post something on a regular basis.

Third, rather than punish projects like @steembasicincome promote them!

The reward pool thing, really is not an issue down here in the minnow pond. For us it is penny by penny and not pound by pound.

These are just my thoughts, now I will slip away as swimming in the deep waters of WHALE Wars is really not my thing.

Peace out.