The cost of extracting rewards using stake only has to exceed the rewards of doing so for it to be ended. It's not even hard. The Huey Long algorithm would do that overnight.

I assume when you refer to 'they' you're referring to profiteers? I don't think any substantial stakeholder in Steem other than the original ninjaminers is in a net positive position right now, and they're only positive because they spent nothing on their stake.

I am mystified that you seem to be extolling the virtues of the actors that have squandered the incredible opportunity Steem presented, and turned it into what we have today. User retention is below 10% YOY. It's surprising just how badly Steem is performing on the market given it's use case. It's really some kind of evil genius shit to have kept it to such awful condition.