So much in the post, and so much I half agree with. The message in the post I am totally aligned with. Though, how to reach the level or the goals you see can be achieved. I think an alternative route is needed.
To add a thought to to your view on collections. Maybe thinking alternatively a little on the front ends. Talk to anyone, myself included. PeakD is definitely a move forward for the average user of the chain for blogging. With the collections though, maybe a focus on providing a news coverage. Having contracted writers, rewarding those content writers another discussion.
Regular writers are best, I think we can agree on regular content holding value. Hive is like one big newspaper that everyone can put their advertisement in or their literature. But it is chaotic. Not organised at all. The communities is a good effort. It does fall short when it comes to membership of communities to a great deal. Part of the reward me mentality you talk about combatting.
Many obstacles have prevented that shift from what is to what could be. The biggest been unity. While many fight to see their dream come true for the chain. There is little common discussion on the direction to go. Or it appears that way mostly to the general user. A common focus to support all other others. Finding a central point we can all agree to move forward with for the Hive chain. This does not seem to be transparent to the majority of users on the chain.
If we can unite the witness on one thing of focus for the future. Everything else will fall into place. Just maybe.