What we need is more guides on how to integrate Steem into content-creators revenue stream.
It sounds like what you are describing is the Smart Media Tokens (SMTs) which are planned for deployment on the Steem blockchain sometime this year. As I understand it, Steemit Inc is leading the development. SMTs are somewhat similar to Ethereum's ERC-20 tokens.
With SMTs, content creators all over the web will be able to easily integrate their own tokens into their own websites and reward their users. Again, the tokens are built on the Steem blockchain, so it benefits all Steem holders on all applications.
The author may be right about the need to upvote quality content. However, I find myself upvoting lesser quality content at times out of desire to help people that don't appear to have a lot of resources or to encourage people to stick with it. There is so much to learn here for new users and they can easily get discouraged if they don't start seeing results. People have more potential than what may initially appear. We have a problem with retention. But, if I understand the author's perspective correctly, we don't want to retain everyone, only the best bloggers? That may be where this all ends up, don't know.
Based on what I have read about the intentions of Daniel Larimer and Ned in creating the platform, it was to help everyone have a greater opportunity to gain financial freedom and freedom from fiat currency which is doled out by governments that want more and more control over our lives. However, the need to produce value on the blockchain is there, whether it be through writing blog posts, uploading videos to @dtube, @dlive, posting pictures to @steepshot, moving with the eSteem mobile app, cruising the forums on https://chainbb.com/forums, checking the specs on @busy.org, cranking on some memes on @dmania or https://www.decentmemes.com (a brand new site by @netuoso, with Steem integration), crackin' your knuckles at steemit.chat by @riverhead or selling your wares through @steembay.... (breathes heavily)... shall I go on? We need to contribute quality to take a drink from this delicious reward pool, that is so Steemy.