Your post sums up all what is Steemit to me. I can relate to it. More or less we have the same reasons why we are here. Outlet is the apt word for Steemit, outlet to express yourself, to learn something new or even rekindle what was once old, to earn, to do something that we never thought we can do and to have friends even if it meant through online only.
Outlet indeed summarizes this idea. You summed it up very well friend!