Matt thank you for asking such inspired questions!
- Check my #witness-update posts each week to see what I am doing as a witness and my vision as a witness . The newest is at https://steemit.com/witness-update/@jerrybanfield/me-a-top-20-witness-usd200-every-day-spent-on-ads-for-steem-6
- While it is first come first served for witnesses currently, newer witnesses very much have a chance to rise in ranks with continued service over several months.
- Each witness goes about feedback differently with some seeking feedback of their voters while others are mysterious as to how they work. I seek feedback consistently for everything!
- Transparency is the #1 key I believe is essential for witnesses because there is so much opportunity for mystery such as why witnesses are getting votes, what witnesses are actually doing besides running a server, and how accountable witnesses are for actions on a day to day basis. Being transparent and generous has huge opportunities today as a witness.
While it is a bit of a popularity contest, it also comes down to the contribution each of us make. If we seek to serve our community here as the primary value, I think a lot of great witness potential is there for anyone. I believe as the price of Steem rises, the witness rewards may be changed to a slightly smaller amount and automatic scaling down is already in place.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Thanks even more for putting your thoughts into action with your following proactive blog post with a commitment to transparently reinvest 80% of your future top 20 witness rewards into Steemit marketing budget. That's accountability. As I mentioned in that other reply, that certainly impressed beyond expectation and earned my vote.