Best ways to recruit users:

Decrease the drama
Stop tampering with stake
Promote positive engagement
Allow for endusers to feel successful - curate, word of mouth with spread the word.
Stop harping on quality content, very few people consider themselves as authors. New users feel intimidated.

Make engagement fun!
Continue to do community activities like SteemIt's hundred days of Steem.

Simplify talking points regarding the advantages of the platform.

STOP TAMPERING WITH STAKE, if you want to have any creditibility.