I think the changes may have accelerated the abandonment.

I noticed my author rewards went down substantially more than my curation rewards went up. That likelihood was brought up, and pooh-poohed by the PTB. Some of the folks that have left were the ones bringing that point up, and who were probably hurt by the payment changes.

I'm sticking around. Maybe STEEM will rise again.

Besides that, you see folks in your feed that you hadn't seen in a while...folks who may have been lost in the wash.