ok, this is the best explanation yet, of the gateway thing, but why would BitShares allow it? Wouldn't it just be MUCH easier to simply open up BitShares to other cryptos like Steem?
Also, bitcoin and ether aren't native to BitShares? What IS native if not those two?

We almost fear the solution more, bc will it just obfuscate some legal complications? There's a lot of counter-party risk in the world, and just making something simpler-looking doesn't remove the problem, it's just clouds it's visibility. If a product is good, can't it stand on its own for the most part without having clones like OpenLedger?

Again, on the withdrawal fee, it's not making it any more attractive to say "others are the same".
This is an inherent crypto-currency problem, which defies the very reasons people were first attracted to crypto-currencies. If this is becoming "standard", then crypto deserves the drubbing it's been getting. Everything that was promised, is not happening so far. Sure, Lightning Network and Segwit MIGHT solve some of the problems, but the MAIN problem to all of this, is that there's too many grubby fingers trying to make money and charging the maximum possible to exploit the trend.

We think this all ends badly, frankly.

But yes, we appreciate your candor and attempt at addressing these questions/problems.

But realistically, wake us up when the fees are per-transaction and thus withdrawal fees are zero, or when the withdrawal fee is reasonable. Even an annual fee would make more sense, upto say 2.5%. Altho we think that'd be highway robbery, given the 10 year T-bond pays only about 3% give or take 50 basis points.