I like your tone of optimism, and realism. Having been at SF3 with you, I'm also nodding my head over here on a few of the other points. This one especially:

please make environmental footprint, social accountability, and personal safety some of the top priorities when choosing a venue for Steemfest 5.

I don't think I would've made it this year, regardless, but I'd love to attend again. Roeland does a phenomenal job at organizing the events. It would be nice to not have to travel as far, or, if it's a long journey, for the destination to feel safe and sanitary (like, somewhere I'm not terrified to eat the food if I don't know it's been washed in purified water). I don't envy trying to make a decision on the venue. Can't be an easy task to gather an international tribe.

I am looking forward to communities and SMTs, and appreciate the long-term vision of the blockchain moving forward. I'm still here, and looking towards the future. There's a lot of potential, and it's okay to take a step back before moving in the right direction again.