> If it ends up being a closed ecosystem then growth will be much slower, if at all.

SMTs should bring the solution for that because the custom tokens enable adopting already existing communities. That coupled with light accounts and people will be part of Steem before they even know it! If SMTs come in time, it could start happening next year already. And we already know how quickly Steem-Engine took off...

>I like your approach of helping people into it and giving them that initial boost of SP. A grass root approach is great.

I'm happy to do that to my friend's I already know - they just have to say it first so I could make them accounts :D