We all have those doubts, more often than we would like to admit, @naegling11.
The truth though is that STEEM will not become popular because of Steemit. Steemit Inc. even don’t hide that their focus is elsewhere, rightly so. They’re building a protocol, not one website.
Eventually, if STEEM becomes a big and important token it will because of everything what happens on the Steem blockchain. Mostly SMTs, not because of Steemit.
Maybe Steemit isn’t what most think it is. ;)
A well written article @fknmayem and that is what all steem investors hope for, but what about the crony communities of banksters and governments that currently control a significant amount of steem and daily drain the rewards pool for their own benefit while occasionally throwing a scrap or two to the masses to keep them from revolting.
Or more importantly than that, why are @ned and yourself powering down if the future of steem is so bright. Not trying to be antagonistic, and maybe you both have financial obligations that require you to do something that you don't want to do, but it does seem odd.
To answer to the second part of your question, I’m powering down less than I grow on average ever week. Any other relevant reasoning doesn’t fall in the transparency required for blockchain. :)
As for ned, I’m guessing that he is powering down because his agreement with the board allows him to power down x every x. But that’s merely a wild guess, one which IMHO is a fully normal process though. Founders (and also C-level execs) usually have vesting equity every so often, which they then are allowed to sell.
Addendum: I didn’t say the future is bright. I said we all have have those doubts, more often than we would like to admit. But I do believe in SMTs. Whether that means I also need to be a HODLer... maybe those concept need not be mutually exclusive. But I agree, perception matters. Yet my life is not on the blockchain.
Thanks for the reply @fknmayhem, you're honesty is appreciated. The future is definitely uncertain in regards to a lot of things in life, especially in the crypto sector. One is certainly wise to not have all of their eggs in one basket.