Ironically voting period length and user engagement are inversely related, meaning shorter voting periods increase engagement. I liked the 12 hour period also and I think to change things and move them in the right direction, need to at least revisit that.

Having that front page listing the same authors for more than 1 day with thousands of dollars is rubbing salt in the wounds of those who feel the system is unjust. That is one of the biggest marketing killers right now for the site.