I'm ashamed to say that I had never heard of the Steem Alliance until now. Thanks for the clear explanation.
One of the things I love most about Steemit is watching how various Steemians take it into their own hands to develop and advance the community as the original "owners" (Steemit Inc) gradually reduce their role. These initiatives are often done in an admirably mature and responsible way. If only countries could be governed in this way...