I actually just joined a few days ago, and I hope this discussion will help inspire my future posts.

I'm not really here for the money directly. Though I think it is an innovative tool to help direct community growth in a positive manner, I feel it should not be the main focus of my steemit efforts. Of the reasons you listed platform growth is probably the most important to me and it is also a very refreshing form of social media. Many other platforms have no incentive to create quality content and virtually no recourse for inflammatory or destructive posts. I want to watch steemit grow and effect the world at large in positive ways no one ever expected.

I'm actually still trying to find a good driver to post right now as a new steemian. I have been considering a sort of review of steemit as I see it from my perspective as a way to track developments and add my sentiment to the space. I've also been talking to a lot of people about steemit who have never heard of it before. One such person even asked me if I'd be willing to promote their art on my account!