"...such an attack costs more and is harder to execute than the current attack going on STEEM."

That's true, but I think the important question is whether it would be harder enough.

I am not familiar with @blocktrades efforts to improve rep. It definitely needs improvement IMHO. However, as I pointed out, IRL rep is highly subjective and individual, and that's most of why it's useful. I don't see some kind of standardized rep that's calculable as emulating that utility.

Thanks again.