Call me a killjoy but...
Hive will likely always burn like a peat fire (because peat fires just do).. but if the illusive SMT doesn't arrive by next year then the community that remains loyal to this will be so small and so niche, that building on top of it with anything other than what those communities will be (aspiring artists, card game collectors, and mixed "poor" countries) will just result in a flop from the get go.
All these comments left on this post by 'catwithcupcake' agree that COMMUNITY is the Hive strength. So then, think, how could a "dapp" trying to (for example) launch a tokenised sports team fan group ever gain any movement if all that remains here are the very limited userbase I outlined, users that themselves would be concentrated on their (likely dying) hustle.
That's why SMT needed to happen back before when steemit was set to take on that $8 high. SMT ability with that price lure would have made internet history. I don't see such a mass effect with the current environment and price.
The blogging is the blogging because the system IS BLOGGING, but this crypto (as hive and steem) HAS NOT taken users and amassed them from the default platforms of VIDEO, TWEETING, SOCIAL COMMUNICATION. You could argue that photo has attracted some over from IG but really that's a dying system that itself is now trying to compete with the very popular tiktok short video system.
Anyway 'catwithcupcake' blocked me a while ago so I wonder if this can even be seen... but I add it to have it exist as an alternative, maybe sensible/realistic view for those seeking it now and in the future.