It would require a long-term vision, yes; I don't think that is in the cards, though.

That is one of the reasons I would prefer to see the marketing of Steem-as-a-currency for external parties happen at the same time, or even before, focussing on the application landscape and making an internal market for buying stuff which is unlikely to detract people away from the established players anyway. I think.

I don't think we have five years either; the first cryptocurrencies to get a real foothold in the world outside their respective bubbles/domes will win. Getting anywhere will require both push and pull marketing, not just working on expanding what we have for whom we have and then hoping for interest from outside. I think 8-).

But I'm afraid it's all moot (in the USA sense of the word) anyway.