You bring up some real and valid concerns.
I am also relatively new to Steemit (Feb 2nd), and whereas I really like the platform, I have my reservations... many of them based on about 20 years of putting content on "user generated content sites with rewards," almost every single one of which has failed. Of the two that didn't fail, one simply changed format and only takes "professional" content now; the other limps along in it's 11th year.
It's easy to argue that "Steemit is different" because it is blockchain based and it's decentralized... but HUMAN NATURE doesn't care about such innovations... it simply unfolds in whatever way it chooses. Hereunder expressions of greed and petty squabbles that end up as an annoyance to everyone.
I have been less concerned with celebrities than with "clicking for cash" locusts, to be honest. There's a destructive swarm of people out there who will bring their collective fanaticism to bear at the slightest mention of "make money online." They tend to come in by the thousands (or hundreds of thousands) to milk a venue of every available penny by ANY means (honest or crooked) they can think of... they have one solitary mission... "game the system for personal reward in the short term." They don't care about "community," or quality content, or the longevity of the site...
In some sense, they are close cousins to the "celebrity followers" you are describing, except they dominate the landscape by sheer numbers, their posts outnumbering legitimate content by a factor of 100-to-1.
So that leaves us with the important decision of how to "brand" Steemit, before taking it to too much of a broader public. And I lean towards emphasizing this as a quality information center for "alternative thinkers," be it lifestyle, artists, writers, survivalists, activists and so on. Meaning that to a Kim Kardashian or Kanye West, this looks like a niche of "fringe dwelling weirdos" they would not find so attractive... while someone like Marilyn Manson or a crowdfunded band like Ra might.
It also means having the patience to grow the site organically, rather than through some mass-marketing effort or an ill conceived referral program. It isn't that a Lady Gaga account here wouldn't be attractive... but let's not entertain that thought UNTIL there is already an established userbase of 100,000+ ACTIVE contributors here, and the "support apps" (music, photos, crowdfunding, alt. marketplace) have been developed and integrated.
Nice to hear another fresh voice here!
Truth in disclosure: I type with two fingers, never learned... at 92wpm, last time I was timed. You can do that, too!
I always imagine these types to hear 'kaching' as their eyes roll dollar signs. It isn't just the make money side either, the bandwagoners will gather also. Many will never become active contributors of content but will add their voting opinion liberally and make some content providers seem attractive through social validation. It is a weird world in which we live.
And between your 2 finger typing and @dwinblood 's self-made system I get the impression I am either not putting enough effort in or I am little dim-witted :)
You're an intelligent person. The speed with typing will grow. I am also a programmer. Often I'm holding this really complex algorithm or idea in my mind. I am trying to bring it to life before I lose grasp of the immense web of crap that makes SENSE to me at that moment. So this means by necessity I get faster and faster. I believe this is why I type fast. It simply has conveniently carried over to my typing of other things.
I started with two fingers.
On my left hand I mostly type with 2 fingers, sometimes three, but as I am observing myself I am making notes as I type this. Either thumb can end up pressing the space bar, but it is primarily my right hand thumb that hits space. On my right hand I mostly type with one finger and my thumb, and my pinky on my right hand will blast out to hit the shift key. However, I primarily am using one finger on that hand.
Another thing that may have contributed. I played guitar (all forms) for many years. I was constantly pushing myself on that so I can play some pretty fast stuff with scales and fingers flying around. I never hit the speed of the greats, but I am/was faster than most mainstream music usually is. This may have contributed to my typing as well.
I've barely touched my guitars in more than a year and one of my daughters and my wife are trying to convince me to start playing again. My daughter wants me to give her step son, thus one of my my grand kids guitar lessons. I am pretty sure I'll end up doing that. I just need to decide on a day. :)
So, when you say speed typing it is more in the vein of speed metal :)
I think guitar/piano would have quite an impact on finger speed overall. One of my friends from highschool (a brilliant guitarist) also spent time learning card tricks to help with flexibility and mobility. He got very good.
I played a lot of speed metal, so yeah it likely had some impact on my typing. :)
EDIT: and Classical scales, and such.
OMG 2 fingers at 92 wpm must be a blur!!!!