Steemit community should have supported it more.
I fully agree with you. The same thing happened with SteemSQL when I asked some help from the community. They were all to say "Yes, let's support it" but only a few did and nothing more. Moving to paid subscription was the only way to make SteemSQL survive.
Unfortunately, it seems that this community is more inclined to support shitty posts than projects that are useful for all users.
Shadow workers are rarely rewarded.
I think your decision for moving to paid service is really understandable. Actually SteemSQL is a great service and deserves payment. It could have been better if whales supported the project enough and you didn't need to get the payment :) Developing a great service helps the entire community and the investors, but they just take the benefit and do not give back. Sad.
This is what I do not understand. The steem databases such as steemsql and steemdata could definitely help the development of the community, which should be the aim of those whales who have invested money in steem. Why don't they support them? If not steemdata, what are they supporting? shitty posts? Are they killing steem themselves?