I doubt very much DLive left for the reasons you quote in your post (maybe just because I'm a cynic and never liked them), but the observation itself rings true. More and more people, the actual content providers, can't be bothered to post anymore. The active author number is down to under 15000, and in a downward trend, and I think that is because of failing curation and other interest in content, not because of Steem price.

Steemit is currently set up for making money with money, and not for making money with content, and that is disappointing for authors, especially for those who know what percentage of SP is hidden behind bidbots. All this also makes Steem and Steemit look scammy for those looking at it from the outside.

Sorry I didn't cheer you up.