I see HIVE as the continuation of Steem because of the extant blockchain circumstances that will only keep repeating until the problem gets solved permanently. You see it as a separate territory, and that's one way to look at it. However, the internet is infinite, and people are finite. If we keep rinsing and repeating this same mistake, over and over again, then the number of active users will become so minuscule that the project will lose its luster and become abandoned. Ultimately, people need to fix the failed model or lose faith in it, so they can create a better one before people give up on the blockchain social media concoction entirely.

"No one has to join Hive, or abide by it's policies."

I agree, all we did was slap a new logo on the same failed product.