I wrote these two posts before the hack:
[Security/Bug Report] Steemit.com is vulnerable to "Slow Post" and "Slowloris" DOS attacks
Steemit.com Administrators: You should not allow root login, you should not accept passwords, and you should not let anyone just connect via 22. You need to secure this server better.
The second one is a serious security problem that was fixed thankfully very quickly. These posts were voted up less than 100 USD. Yet after the hack, posts about how white hats should help out, stating they would be paid if they would, get voted up orders of magnitude higher, over 3,000 USD. In this system we think stating demonstrably untrue empty statements with pictures is more important than important posts.
I'm honestly confused, and to be frank, disheartened. I started working on libraries for Steem too because they are woefully lacking but it seems that the community doesn't seem to value those efforts as much as vanity and memes from other sites.
Is there anything that can be done or is the system just not meant to create a meritocracy?