As to hemorrhaging users. We've already had that. The question is whether the new users make up for and replace that. It's been pretty bad if you really watch since most of the efforts seem to center around those who purchase votes rather than actual curation.

I do think most of what we're seeing with the steem prices though are tied to the overall decline we're seeing in all of crypto.

Though to steemit, inc. I say. "Communities?" We've been talking about communities for around two years. I believe it was around this time two years ago I first heard about them. Then some time after that we started hearing about Smart Media Tokens (SMTs) and that has some people excited. Yet it's not here. I believe at this point a lot of people have adopted the stance of the hype no longer keeps us convinced. We'll be excited IF/WHEN we actually see it actually present.

I do think many people have concerns that the printing money that this project has been for some people has some people not as active or passionate about make these things happen as they otherwise might have. When paying your bills becomes less of an issue then all of us have potential to lose that sense of urgency. If you are first out of the gate with a crypto idea you can apparently SEIZE and insure your legacy. That is if you don't start taking it easy as you bask in the windfalls of wealth.

Whether that is the case or not. I don't know. I don't think many of us do as Steemit, Inc. is known for silence at this point. It's hard to tell how important this is, or if they are taking the money and running as I've heard many people say in the past. I have seen gaps closed by competitors, and opportunities seized that should have been seized by steem long before this. None of us are perfect. We miss signs, we miss opportunities, and if that is all it is then we've got your back. If it is complacency then yes I would expect the usage of steem to decline as competitors enter the fray and do what it has been promising but not delivering.

Look at the speed at which they conceived up, launched, iterated, and then had running this brilliant never before seen project. Then compare that to what has happened since then.

While I do like the reports from the various Hard Forks from @steemitblog, I also find them very underwhelming in this point.

And alex... as to needing another source of income. I can understand that IF this was your only source. All I can say to those of you that have done quite well in the past... when you do well, don't start living as though that is the norm. Live within your means and weathering the rough patches should surely be doable.

Hopefully Steemit manages to deliver on some of these things that are very vaporware-like at this point and that indeed could turn things around.

Right now... Minds looks nice, has a vibrant community, and is only held back by the slowness of Ethereum. Eth has also been promising a transition to Proof of Stake and Sharding which if they actually pull off will decrease the gap between it an Steem.

Now if someone makes something like Steem on EOS... that could be a pretty serious contender. Right now it is like a race... Steem has been in the front, but they've tripped a few times and some of the other racers are starting to nip at their heels.

EDIT: Sorry about the typos and incorrect choice of words here or there. I wrote it as a reply, and a stream of consciousness and while I see places I should correct I am going to leave it as is.