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Fast isn't the same as efficient. Large consensus systems with many users have many different interests to consider. Even the so called 'abusers' are users with interests. A diverse ecosystem requires some degree of stability for people to to build on it and not have the rules changed out from under them. Some blockchains such as Bitcoin have a culture of resisting change altogether, arguing that the long-term value of stability outweighs any short term benefits that might come from 'improvements'. So far that seems to be working okay! (Of course it certainly has its detractors, too!) Steem doesn't quite have that culture but it doesn't mean we just change things on a dime either. That wouldn't be 'efficient'.

Yes, speed is not the same as efficiency, example: the HF20. :)

Also, I only hope that among witness seek to defend the interests of more than 1 million users and not be influenced by those who seek to fill much more the pocket. ♥