They also return because it's highly rewarded. I know who wouldn't powerdown because they don't needed and who also give their Steem away. I am one of them but if I see that farmers are highly rewarded, those who abused Steemit and powered down communities are rewarded again by SCs it makes me sick to the bone.

Right now I don't feel very motivated to buy Steem, especially not because it's not easy to do so with all the restrictions.

Next to that I see people only 2 years around or less and they are way higher on the ladder and wrote by far not as much, nor commented that much as I did. What counts for me also counts for others who stick around and see how this is played.

Years ago, we tried to promote Steemit as a platform for bloggers, but all I see is people who should be "lured" in like @sbamsoneu remarked, to drain the platform and those who worked hard more and more.

I do agree with you that "big daddy" didn't exist back then for everyone (to a handful he did) and people found way to interact, connect.

The fact that this no longer happens is due to the policy of those (communities) promoting the wrong messages and dragging entire families over here.