"Currently the long power down period means you need to be committed to tying up your funds for at least 13 weeks, which some feel protects the blockchain from bad actors."

Indeed, and that is one of the main reasons why so many members are leaving the Steemit Platform. Having to wait for 13 weeks to get our own money back is nothing short of hostage taking, and certainly not an aspect of any entity that we would want to trust much money with.

Here are the facts (as I see them):

1. People come and join Steemit.

2. Some of then buy Steem so that they can have more up-vote power.

3. New members unfortunately quickly discover that the payouts they receive from up-voting are nowhere remotely close to what is promoted.

4. They then want to cash in and leave Steemit, but to their dismay, find that they have to wait a whopping 13 weeks (1/4 of a year) to get their money back.

5. These disgruntled members / x-members then tell their friends, who in turn tell their friends, just what kind of a scam Steemit really is.

6. As a result of this and other reasons), in my opinion, the end of Steemit is getting ever closer.