What Does it Mean That We’ve Been “Acquired by Tron”?

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Questions for @Justinsunsteemit:

These lines leapt out at me in an article about the new “partnership” between Tron and Steemit:

Old Steem tokens will be converted to new Tron-based Steem tokens.

Steemit will begin its migration to the Tron network, adding to Tron’s base of users and platforms

How does this benefit us, on Steemit, if by raising our profile, we lose our autonomy?

I’ve noted, in the recent past, that in our desperation for mass adoption, we’ve valued quantity over quality —-
this is sadly evident in the ‘by any means necessary’ approach of @threespeak where they’ve attracted and continue to support some unsavory types/infamous bigots, only because they have a ‘following’ (never-mind if they are hateful, dangerous, too).

So, what about now; can we continue to be proud of Steemit, or are we simply up for sale to the greatest bidder? a
Are we no longer decentralized? Is this partnership, in reality, a take-over?

‪I thought the whole point of Steemit, unlike other social media platforms, was that we were free; we own our content & nobody owns us?!‬

I didn’t realize that we could be bought, or acquired. Has Ned sold us... out?

On the flip side, as many have noted, we could use new leadership & Tron, whatever their motives, are good at marketing, at least!

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As Justin says, Tron network is poised to gain a million users (although I thought we only had around 20,000 active users).

But, how does this empower us Steemians? Will our content —- in my case, literary, philosophical, cultural, spiritual —- be valued by this new community running our show?

As Tron expands what happens to us?!

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