Both:

Why not make it optional? Isn't that how Bitchute works? Same thing with Dtube where you don't have to do IPFS to watch videos on Dtube. But you can if you want.

Optional

It would be like an add-on option. I would make the seeding, the mining, etc, optional, so that it doesn't change anything about what people have to do on Steem, on Steemit, on Busy, etc.

Bitcoin, Bit Torrent

Thousands of people around the world use Bitcoin, Bit Torrent, Bitchute, IPFS, seeding, mining, etc. So, some people would do it for Steem. So, make it optional like Bitchute.

Bitchute

You don't have to do it on Bitchute but I think they have it on Bitchute. In other words, we can still keep it simple like you said.

User Interface

Yes, clean the face of the platform, the user interface (UI), of the apps of Steem, would be a very good idea, that is to keep it minimal, as in simple. Yeah, to newbies, forks are confusing.

Firefox

Firefox is always making changes as well. Technically, Microsoft operating systems (OS) are always making changes and that is why you click to update your computer ever week or two. I use Ubuntu.

Delegation

So, you mentioned donating. Delegation in SP to witnesses can help. Yes, you can donate through delegating SP to witnesses and that is a good thing to do.