The same mechanisms are at work in the cryptocurrency world and on Steemit as everywhere else. All ideals are dropped as soon as there is money to be made, or have been fake from the beginning. Thinking this would be different in the cryptocurrency world is, indeed, a pipe dream.

Things could be better, but that would require a closed group of like-minded people with the explicit goal of spreading the joy a bit wider; no need for complete equality, just some mutual generosity without the total focus on one's own pile of Steemses. I don't think this can be done with a large, random group of people which will always contain short-term thinkers, greedy people, crafty manipulators, and a large crowd of blind, grovelling followers hoping for leftovers, much like most societies.

I sometimes wonder what stops a couple of thousands of minnows from flagging notorious circle-jerkers in said 1%? Instead they try to suck up in the hope of some crumbs, where they could at least mute if they are scared of flagging. Interesting behaviour.

History shows that most revolutions deteriorate into more-of-the-same, but at least you get to kick against the pricks for a short while.

Now, at whose feet do I grovel to get the big upvotes? 8-)