That was an excellent article he linked everyone up to, explains a lot of problems in detail. I think you were spot on about negative publicity as steemits been around for enough time it's gotten a bad rep among those on blogging platforms. Now with the current hardfolk taking aim at bidbots it has just been replaced with the strategy that whatsup was promoting several months back when steem price was falling and seems to have gained foothold of forming circles among those in the upper tier to form tribes to circle jerk upvoting each other. Someone upstairs noticed her cries and decided her idea best, probably why she is the thick of it with them. It just wasn't the right answer and made steemit all the more exclusive to those who'd even consider joining until they see that.