The content on Steem is just the cheese in the mousetrap. Fresh content makes Steem show up on search engines. This attracts new users, and the value of the economic system grows. Fresh content also keeps users engaged, so they don't leave the system. A constant stream of new interesting content also gives meaning to Steem Power. Without fresh content, influence would be worth little.

What I'm trying to say is, Steem is first and foremost an economic system, and the content's main goal is to onboard people and keep them on board. The more users, the stronger the network effect, which is probably the most important part of any economic system. When Steem achieves a critical mass of users, anything will be possible. After that, the social media aspect will be just a nice additional service, which keeps on-boarding new users.

Just think of it. What would be a more powerful tool to disrupt the status-quo than an independent economic system? A forum? No way!
Now there are hundreds of attempts to create independent ecominic systems, bitcoin being one of them. However, they have failed to appeal to the big masses, which means they will likely never reach a critical mass. The creators of Steem have found the recipe for getting the masses to accept their currency. It is good, fresh content and the appeal to money and influence. That is the bait on the hook, not the main thing at all.

So I think Steemit doesn't need to optimize for timeless super-content. Fresh content, good conversations, promise of money and power and a positive atmosphere are all really powerful for attracting users and retaining them. It's not clickbait, but real bait. People say yum yum, and without noticing, they are a part of a new economy.