I've learned so much here over the last 7+ years on Steemit/Hive, and will at times perform a search to see if I'm not repeating something that has been published (very well) recently.
A couple of years ago, I had a post all written up and ready to go, when I decided to do a Hive search on the subject. BAM! I found that someone had recently covered the subject I'd just written about PERFECTLY, which made my post look like amateur-hour in comparison. So I scrapped that post and wrote about something else. :)
If I can come up with fresh information, or a unique angle, then I can add to the discussion. This is why I spend hours in research finding those little nuggets in order to build information around. Example; when I found out that most bedding sold in America contain flammable ingredients whose fumes can knock a person out in a fire which prevents escape.
Ever wonder why so manby people die in fires in the US? That's why. I paired that with the story of T he Station nightclub fire where 100 people died, and came up with a unique article to publish on Hive.