So what is the purpose behind the data on the Steemit blockchain if not to make some people happy or improve the wellbeing of some people? And if it does exist for that then it's a question of utility. If it's a question of utility then those who put dollars in will want the most bang for each buck as measured in the happiness or utility they get from every unit of value they input into the product, blockchain, machine or whatever it is.

If we think of Steem as a machine which takes in input (units of value) and outputs utility, then the Steem Power holders are the consumers or customers who must in my opinion not just get paid ROI in $. ROI in $ improves the US Dollar economy but doesn't do anything else. ROI in actual utility means people will use Steem because they actually are made happy or helped in some way by the content Steem is generating.

If it's all about the blockchain and I can even agree, then the utility comes from the data sets. Human beings cannot analyze big data using our brains. This big data once analyzed can unlock the true utility and allow for maximization of utility. What I mean to say is the ultimate benefit Steem as platform can give to the world is measurable in the amount of satisfaction the Steem Power holders are receiving. This means the blockchain would exist to improve the lives of the Steem Power holders primarily and as a side effect of being open anyone else who comes along.

So why would I want to buy Steem Power? If I know I can get content which can make my life happier, more enjoyable, or which satisfies some want or need, then as a customer I'm likely to be loyal as long as I'm getting a lot of Steem for every dollar I put in. If I'm merely being used as an "investor" then why would I care about Steem in the long term after I get whatever USD value I put in? Why would I become loyal to Steem once I got my USD money back? Why wouldn't I take my USD money and put it into something which gives me more satisfaction or more bang for it's buck than Steem?

If I can find more happiness, more satisfaction, somewhere else, then my money rationally speaking would be better spent somewhere else. If what you say is true and it's a "So long, and thanks for all the fish", then there will not be any true value to Steem as a platform beyond speculative. If on the other hand Steem focuses on building actual utility then there will be real value behind the Steem token beyond speculative. Steem Power will be valuable because Steem as an ecosystem is fun.