>Organized grassroots level movement to change is the only option I see, because otherwise it's just the rich SP holders who decide as the rulers, and the code changers at Steemit Inc... 

I don't see a grassroots movement happening here tbh because of the anonymity of most users. Without social repercussions for behaving poorly, not enough will ever make a stand. So many *movements* have come and gone but at the end of the day, to be a part of one or to try for better is to limit ones earning potentials and that is what matters to most users here. The only way to really affect the system at this point is monetary incentives and unfortunately, the future is to uncertain for most to invest into it so the incentives must be now. So should the disincentives.