I definitely agree with your statements. In terms of privacy/staying hidden, I think many users of social media are now jaded given the current landscape (one of conflict) in mainstream social media (FB, Twitter, etc.). So the average new user to this platform may still be guarded and protecting themselves as they feel out this new platform.

What is great about Steem (and the apps that utilize it) is that it fosters a new type of model, based around collaboration and substance of posts, instead of contention and sheer volume of posts. This inherently creates a safer and more open environment. We just need more people interacting in such ways and we shall start to see change.