I never really looked at it as the captain going down with the ship. I look at it as the only place I make something from my writing and my content. I don't get paid by Medium, or WordPress or Facebook or anywhere else in the conventional net universe. So the chance to actually engage with people and get paid something for it is great.

Sure, I'd like to be paid more, have the upvotes worth more. But if I only make a dollar, that's a dollar more than I'd make with the same content anywhere else.

We have to remember, too, that all the apps out here in blockchain land are startups. And startups go through specific phases, which includes having the heady rise come to a halt and having to make hard decisions. Trimming the staff is rather normal, and had Ned NOT done that, then I would be concerned about the future.

There are some things that annoy me and frustrate me about Steemit, but so far the pluses outweigh the minuses so I'm sticking here. And the comments are great - yeah I know many are from bots and people with an agenda (losing at you BernieSanders) but it's still nice to meet new people and exchange ideas.

I've learned a LOT from interactions on Steemit and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I get to peek inside someone else's world and mind and that's a real incentive to stay and continue to engage. I think that when the dust settles, if Steem is still alive, it will be leaner, stronger and better for the experience.

If not, I'll be going down with the ship as the Titanic band plays Nearer My God to Thee and deck chairs wash over the rails.