Indeed, one has to wonder about the intentions behind the new set-up.

I would be pleased to see fewer short, pointless, spammy comments (and posts of the same nature). At the same time, if this new system prevents people from making short but significant, relevant, and interesting posts and comments, then the Steemit platform will suffer some undesirable results.

Like, maybe, the death of the platform. Or at least a drop-off in the growth numbers. Granted, as a crypto-generating blog platform, Steemit has definite attractions, but if it erects obstacles to the blogging and to the ability to generate Steem, why would any newbies bother joining Steemit?

Let's hope the powers-that-be have taken that into account. And that they take that into account as this forking nonsense evolves or devolves.