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And logically, the big stake holders wouldn't want to troll Witness downvotes because they would be screwing with their investments.

Bad actors on the other hand...

Well, such flags could be used by Stinc and other large players to help enforce consensus among the top-20 witnesses, should the need suddenly arise. There is that. Other abuses are also possible.

But still.

Good point, that is a possibility, but I'm convinced that they would know better. Not just because of some altruistic idea, or anything romantic like that.

But because if they were to show themselves as tyrants (which I don't believe them to be) people would effectively exodus.

No one would leave. No one ever leaves Steemit.

No matter how shitty things get, it’s still free money.

"...Welcome to the hotel, California.."

Hah, you got it.

I'm sure you've read the crabs in the bucket metaphor... pretty ugly mind you, but interesting nonetheless (it's in the white paper)

Heh. I liked reading that for some reason. It claims it was the solution to address the problem of the multi-party prisoner's dilemma concerning countering self-votes / growth-inhibiting behavior. Guess we're not crabby enough.

hahahhaha I don't know if you meant that as a joke, but it came out comical.

It's half joke, half serious :)