Well written post with a lot of great ideas. My first thought is how much I love being on Steemit, and the fact it has lost a lot of 'steam' in the 2 1/2 years plus I've been on here. As you've said, there is a huge drop off in commenting, and activity. I've never been a huge player on here, usually averaging 25-50 votes (unless very lucky to be curied, thank you very much @curie), and 7-15 original comments a post, but have had a large number of people I consider good friends on here, that are now gone. Kind of sad, even though I've never met them in person. This has always been the best part of Steemit for me, the interpersonal interaction. Though it's always nice to see the large vote, the interaction and appreciation for work you've put forth is worth SO much more to me. Particularly in light of writing. Some things take a day or two to create. It's nice to feel appreciated for your 'work', disguised as fun.

Though people call some of the voting 'circle jerk', I think it is a natural state of life, and Steemit, that you support people you know. Though a bit tit for tat, I suppose, it is still a reality. I have friends that put out a post a day, and frankly, it's hard to read it all. Do more than a post a day, it becomes amazingly hard. Add in looking for new folks, it gets tougher.

I think in the case of people I've known that have left, I believe most are due to the time sink, than the money/votes as incentive to leave. Though I certainly could be wrong. Steemit has quite a bit of overhead, if you are writing anything of substance on a regular basis. I've always manually curated, commented and voted, which takes time. Add that to a lot of photography and often writing longer pieces, which was the intent of the site in the beginning as I understand it, and it can be very hard to keep up. Since losing many of my original 'peeps', I've tried to find more people on here, and have met some. I enjoy original material, not memes and pasting's from elsewhere, and one photo/ 1 to 2 line discussions, so that adds some challenge to the mix. I also love humor, and that can be hard to find at times.

As for the ideas you put forth...I'm not that savvy in the ins and outs of the system, so can't add much more beyond your discussion. Such as sign-up time and getting your value up in more of a hurry to be a 'player' on here. By which I mean, able to vote/comment on people with at least SOME worth. I think that is different than when I started. That would be very frustrating indeed. Once these are solved, or at least aided, I DO think that would help a lot. And I agree, the interaction part of the system is key. I wish more new people would comment on my posts, as a 'flag' that they are out there. A post only stays visible for a SHORT time. As stated, when creating, you only have so much time in life to do all these things. Early on, people came into a post and 'introduced' themselves, and you went out and read their stuff. If you liked it, you added them to your reading list, voted for them, commented back, etc. I seldom see new faces on here this way anymore. I think this is key to growing the site. As you say in the end, good old PERSONAL INTERACTION. They don't know you exist, if you don't get out there. Maybe that is more difficult now. But it seems almost non-existent.

I like the allocation of resource credits idea. It would be VERY frustrating to not be able to partake as you want on the site. I think that is very different than when I started. But it is hard to allocate Steem to other projects/people, when you are trying to maximize it to give the best 'return' to other Steemitians. Such as voting and voting on comments as well. Which I try to do.

I also do not like vote buying. I think that harms the site. I don't look at the trending page, as it has nothing to do with quality that I like to see on a regular basis. I think it hurts the Steemit site when new people come in, if that is what they see. But, as I understand it, Steemit is supposed to be self regulating, so maybe that is what many people want. I don't flag anyone either. I just ignore things I disagree with, except maybe those "can't have's" on here. Like child pornography, etc. As you say, there is huge dis-incentive to go down the flagging road. On many planes.

Well, you really opened a can of angleworms from this end on this post. But I guess the bottom line for me, is that interaction piece. Once the sign-on process and allocation is improved, and people can be more of a player early on-that is a key thing. That and if you can financially afford it, stay in the site and keep your Steem as high as you can. That way you are a true contributor and can give max votes and do the most for other people. I always seem to dip to 40-65% in my voting, and have to stagger voting. I guess that's just the way of the world. I'd love a 40 foot deep swimming pool FULL of endless votes.

Thanks for putting out some interesting facts and ideas. And letting me go on and on and on here. As if that's something new and different ( : Cheers