(if everything in life is automated / machined -- then what's the point in being alive?)
The tracking is automated, not the actions performed.
I think the problem with jury duty is, would you want 12 random strangers of unknown origin and skill to decide your fate?
I strongly believe that the current system, call it "1 VEST = 1 VOTE" is intrinsically damaging
The difference here is that this is an opt-in and opt-out system with the ability to affect the future which means those who opt-in can accept it or have a decent chance to change it for the future.
In this case -- there's VERY little proof-of-brain happening. Only proof-of-stake getting to decide what they feel is interesting / otherwise protects / reinforces their stake.
I actually extend PoB out further than voting and include it in all activities on the platform. Generally, act like an ass, get treated like an ass. Actions dictate outcomes to at least some degree and being able to learn and adjust is part of the PoB.
To pull the analogy back to Steem -- I'd suggest that I'd rather have 12 random strangers judging me, rather than a single small group (or individual) of unelected, large-stakeholders (of unknown origin and skill).
I appreciate that the system, the rules, and the interactions have the ability to change and evolve over time -- that's one of the great things about Steem. I think that saying that "those who opt in" have a "decent" chance at affecting anything is a huge overstatement, unless you qualify it with "opt in AND purchase a gigantic portion of SteemPower". One CAN vote for witnesses, but your vote and opinion is dwarfed and drowned by larger stakeholders.
There's no PoB there. That's just social interactions between people, as normal. You can currently find this on FB or Twitter with users getting banned and blocked. Nothing unique to Steem there. You can get praised or ostracised from any community. If anything, the opposite here is true, where you can almost do whatever you want with a large enough stake -- and get away with it.
Small group? THere are hundreds of orcas, thousands of dolphins here and tens of thousands of minnows. While still far too few, there is some diversity still.
I disagree as there have been several people who with very little stake have built themselves a presence that has influence over the system in some way.
That is PoB in my opinion and those who are generally successful socially in IRL, do pretty well here socially too. On steem, no one can get banned or blocked.