Because I am somewhat of an optimist and idealist by nature, I still have hopes that what we're doing here is at least a step towards creating a better way for everyone to interact with each other. Even if Steemit itself does not become "the next big thing," I still feel hopeful that it can be a learning place and model for those who build new ventures along these lines.

In the meantime, I am just happy to be part of this adventure! And the rewards here — "ideal" or otherwise — are certainly better than on Facebook or Twitter!