"Actually, even if you cite your sources with a prominent attribution link, it can still be downvoted as "copy-pasta"."

That is true! But unfortunately like so many other things on Steemit, some witnesses and high-reputation members have their own set of rules. As you know, they not only down-vote a post or article that they do not agree with, but they then resort to down-voting ALL of a user's posts, comments or replies just like @themarkymark now uses a down-voting bot to down-vote every comment I make as soon as I hit the Post button.

What these people didn't realize is that they totally destroyed the very thing they were holding so dear.

Take a look at @themarkymark wallet. He is now in the process of powering down all of his steem. I suspect that he too has finally seen the writing on the wall and now realizes I was right...Steemit's days as an ongoing entity of any significance are quickly coming to an end, and wants to cash in while he still can.

Personally I think that one day very soon, we will try to login to Steemit, and find that there is no Steemit...gone! Totally gone! along with any remaining Steem in our accounts. Steemit does not have a sustainable business plan. Only a very naive person cannot see that the end is quickly approaching. The writing is on the wall.

"And apparently there's an unwritten rule about "trashing steem" and or "trashing prominent steemit user accounts"."

Indeed! And to think there is no "censorship" on Steemit! In fact, with the exception of "porn" posts being openly allowed on Steemit, Steemit is one of the most censored of all public forums. Post something that those in control do not like, and not only is that post down-voted or blacklisted, but that users's reputation is totally destroyed, That IS censorship at its very worst.