This is great @reddragonfly, thanks for raising these points. And we agree, there are huge barriers (especially for artists) who need real examples of what Steem can be used for in order to become compelling to dive into. Projects like @steembay are super exciting, because they are adding utility to this ecosystem through really innovative solutions.

We think this kind of utility within Steem will only continue to grow. 2018 will be a major year in defining visibility for cryptocurrencies... Steem could be a huge leader in this movement to become more visible, accepted and empowered.