I haven't read yet the steemit whitepaper, so I have no insight of the algorithm facilitating the rewards and mining process on steemit. I read though a post trying to foster elaboration on what kind of changes should take place post 4th July 2016. I think it was someone from steemit that posted. Since I have no much time to go back, find the post and reply, below is my initial thoughts.
My first suggestion is to add a function that will allow a user to (un)mark a post in order to be able to quickly retrieve it if necessary. It would be really useful, beyond the rewards up(down)vote or response functions.
My second suggestion would be to favor linearity. Every community should reflect what its members feel like up(down)voting and rewarding.
To clarify my position, I mean that one's vote should be equal regardless of his steemit account balance. It should remain though the possibility of a proportionate reward depending on the account balance. In a few words, those who hold large accounts should still reward more per vote, but their vote should be equal regarding which "stories" are promoted on the top ranks of the website. This way, we may hold objectivity (equality of votes) and subjectivity (rewards remain personalized).
If the community supports it, then maybe the rewards could be matched by the system automatically, entirelly or partly, on the basis either of the votes or the rewards attracted by any post, be it a story or a response, as a way of mining new tokens.
Subsidizing any type of post, be it "stories" or responses, would just result in avoiding the one and going for the other. As a result, I suggest no discrimination between initial "stories", posts or/and responses to apply.
Finally I do not agree with auto voting by bots. Makes no sense.
What a great endeavour that steemit is! Regards.
