I think of Steem and SBD like Downtown Tokens. They only have value on the platform for the time being. Downtown no longer exists, so those tokens can't buy you anything at the shops, but they might be considered valuable to a collector.

Steem is different in that you can, in fact, power down and convert it to Aussie dollars with which to buy your coffees.

You also have to look at the low price of Steem as a bargain. I started buying it at $5. Now it's around $2.20, so it's rather cheap. If the guys at the top end do the right thing by the platform, are transparent and honest and do what they promised, the price should go up again.

"Buy low, sell high" is how to make a profit. But going deeper, the focus of some people is more about getting involved early with a community and building up friendships and connections with other people.