RE: I quit, I think
Your point is correct but you may want to connect the dots a bit by explaining that votes from many followers are much less likely to shift with the mood of a whale or two, the formation or dissolution of a new guild, the decision of a whale or whales to vote less or not at all, etc. For all the noise about downvoting, what is going on now is mostly just whales not voting (this post got no downvoting as far as I can see) because they decided to see how a different approach from what they have been doing for a the past few months with guilds, etc. would work out. Because some bloggers were so dependent on the support of a few whales, the decision of those same few whales to vote differently (in this case, less) has impacted them significantly, a realization of the inherent risk in concentrated support. Live by the sword, die by the sword, so to speak.
I agree with @smooth - the whales departure has meant many bloggers dying by the sword - particularly those who used Steemit to supplement their income. Now were really beginning to find out who our true community is.
P.S. I spotted this and thought about the double edged sword!! https://steemit.com/funny/@thewiredneuron/stalin-reveals-a-dark-message-to-all-minnows-and-to-the-possible-whereabouts-of-those-flagging-whales-steemmeme
Some people have just refused to look at this situation with an open mind. They've got a mindset and are ready to go to the grave with it. I mean, Steemit is less than a year old and people are already expecting stable income from it? Startups in the real world still end up failing at age five, not to talk of one that's less than a year.
But no, some people never want things to swing out of their zone.
I have not totally stopped voting but have significantly cut down the max % i use in my upvotes.
I will say in all honesty the krakens slowing down on their voting has been a huge factor.
Good to read that you too have decided to exercise a lighter touch. Just because we are whales and can (and even have a a perfectly legitimate right to) decide on all the payouts does not mean that we must do so. As owners of the platform we can decide that users having the bulk of the influence (or at a minimum some significant fraction of it) is more conducive to our own success. Very few have really been happy with the previous whale-controlled reward practices, except those who have personally benefited from it.
Well smooth tbh if u follow my voting record ive really been pretty chill about it in the past too...but i did figure it doesnt make things any better to not at least try to create a silver lining to the way it was all done. So i went along with it even though i would have started it much differently.
It is a good thing to do regardless. Has made me look outside my normal spheres of voting a bit more too. All in all i do agree with the premise though. That is the honest and fair truth. :)