Yes he really is though, he is the largest holder of steem tokens so yeah, he pretty much IS steem itself... he decides what steem becomes...

and no amount of work to improve steem will matter if ned isn't onbaord with it and decides to sell. we must see signs that ned is ready to lead. His twitter might be showing these signs as we speak. he is charged up about something and i feel like he ready to break free from his Paralysis by Analysis via regulation . - @ackza