SteemMonsters is an example of one sure. It is built on the foundation of having a decent size community of users already bootstrapped, and can indeed as you say hopefully help bootstrap even more. But the idea should really be to build many of these, not rely on any one (I don't think you were implying that).

If we get back on track with this original vision of Dan's, I'd be really excited

Maybe it isn't identical but I would say Ned's comments about the core mission being distributing cryptocurrency and the rest (social, blogging, content, even SMTs, etc.) being a means to an end are at least a variation on that theme. I for one am pleased with even this small degree of economic sense (as opposed to what I perceive as a lot of previous nonsense around here) reasserting itself. Let's take the small wins when and where we can get them.