Yes, user interfaces is always evolving, I think they just hit the right spots for user experience and fluidity.

Check the way they do webpages here - https://www.squarespace.com/
And perhaps something like https://swarm.city/

Somehow someone figured out nice UIs of the future.. http://etherdesign.io/

Perhaps old-fashioned, but I think what you've made has it own charm :)

Yes, SteemConnect is maybe the only way to do it.. not sure on the technicalities. Yea so even effective UI now may be an integral part to user experience. It'll be up to research about emerging designs, i guess..