Great post with analysis on Steem and the coming SMTs!
I believe they named it steem as a contraction of esteem, because you can show respect and admiration on here with an up vote worth actual money. Also it sounds the same as steam, which rises, and powers engines, as you insightfully mentioned.
Ah,thank you Kenny,so the Steem name suits two parts of the platform.To build and encourage a spirit of community among its diverse membership.
Also, to provide the means to bring much needed reform to our financial instituitions ,and open doors for new inventions with SMTs .Brilliant !