Medium was a disappointing experience for me. It felt like everyone was talking and no one was listening, and what's the point of that? There were no genuine conversations over there. But if they introduce SMT, reward their authors, and wind up fostering a more participatory community - won't it just be another Steemit?

However I do feel optimistic that SMTs (in my vague understanding of them) might be able to revitalize writing for all platforms, in a world where advertising aggravates everyone and satisfies no one. One thing's for certain - it'll be fascinating to see this stuff unfold.