Well I disagree that Hive is democratic. Technocratic is my view. The ones who play directly with the code essentially rule. Witnesses (20) are like the Royal Family in a sense. The HDF like the central bank that honours certain 'corporations.' the rest... "pay your taxes peasants."

I liked what your said in another comment though, that the voting should be all equal. So that certain things would really get honest governance and everyone feel and be part of the system. Yes investors should get their greater returns, that's naturally how money works but the big issue is that those who aren't able to put a stack in, which (is the overwhelming majority) are really just nobodies.

They are THE VALUE though (as communities, which we all agree) but then they aren't rewarded accordingly. Exploited actually. Yet some, like Venezuelans, literally have no other option so I think even if they see it, they aren't going to make noise about it. There is some good progress in changing that though so maybe the acidboy will rise as a champion of the people.

Because as is, I see it as not just hurting them people committed to communities (in short and long run) but also hurting the system. Because I'm sure I'm not the only one that sees it. So if others see it to then many investors would not proceed to back this Blockchain if they come to realise that there's "secret deals" that actually are how things work here. Or that only certain people matter. Ethics is actually becoming a prominent factor in the regular corporate world so it will also play a large role in these emerging digital systems.

Imo, Hive (even steemit) could have long ago made global impact by taking real notice and care of the "poor people" that it was attracting as far back as 2017. Yet it (the "upper" class) just saw those people as "they're not bringing money so ignore them as they chase pennies" and there was even hateful retribution to those that didn't know too well that asking to be followed for instance is considered spamming. Themarkymark even gets off on them existing on his 'bad people I punish list' and is cold hearted when they ask for some leniency. He has kids too so I wonder who he really is as a person, as a dad etc.. anyway that's almost a personal attack but I see that guy as somewhat of a sociopath.

Overall, I'm no one here in regards to position. I speak the truth though. This thing of Hive, of inner circles, and selective success is why I personally never put money in and why I believe many walked away too. So in the future, that might be why it never grows. Even if it's guaranteed years yet of existence there might not be the mass onboarding or investor attraction that so many hope for and run cumbersome initiatives for. A good system shouldn't even need to be pimped so hard.

SMT might always be the 'Spiritu Santos' that never eventuated. The coming of Christ that never happened. Maybe blocktrades is Jesus? He's obviously making good money from this but he seems very passionate about it too and has hinted that there's much that he believes could be done with it. So who knows!

Anyway regardless, this is one of the most interesting blockchains to watch. It's on the brink of either that much needed expansion or it's in another demise. The fascinating thing is then that, it all depends on who you talk to and what it is that they value to see what perspective is accurate.