What is most discouraging is the fact that a large majority do not seek to do things for their own sake, for example, they do not write because they like to write and create. But writing is just a means to earn a dollar, which distorts everything.

Sadly this is the reality of Steemit. Perhaps if it were harder to determine where the dollar will be (i.e. Learning Challenges, Booming, etc.), people will feel the freedom to be themselves. Who knows what the future holds - a big part of me wants things to return to how they were when I registered - without the plagiarism.