You really nailed the core of the problem. I confess, I've let my posting trail off as the rewards just aren't there. My work is contract based, so I am reluctant to use my savings buying bidbot votes. And I can't afford to spend too much time writing for steemit when I could be doing something else that pays me much more.

I mean, I can get paid $50 AUD an hour by a university just for grading papers (and a lot more for writing lectures). Or I can write for other publications that might not pay much in the form of $, but have other benefits, such as the fact that they reach a readership that's useful for me, such as academics who might employ me one day, or journalists who want to interview me about something. Steemit does neither of these things for me - and I know I'm not the only one. Which is why this comment isn't longer - I'm off to earn some actual money.

Pay attention people, because this guy just affirmed everything I've said in way fewer words. People have no incentive to break their fingers writing shit on here when they can do the same thing somewhere else and earn real money.