Linear reward was a step in the right direction. √x would have been better. Going back to the x reward curve was a mistake.

We have a healthy increase in new accounts but a decrease in authors, curators and engagement.

We need to incentivise new users to become authors, curators and engaged — which the √x reward curve would do.

Instead we incentivise the Whales and Orcas upvote themselves for profit.

The same for the 50/50 reward share. If we had tons of articles in need to curation then might have been a godd idea. But we don't. Look at the stats — again:

Curation is down as well.

And do note the two sharp down spikes. Those are the last two hard forks. They did not stop the downwards trend. They had no effect at all because they where not addressing the real problem:

Not enough rewards for new accounts

As it is right now SteemIt has the stick of pyramid scheme. Which is sad as it's a good idea and doesn't need to be that way.