> In preface, when I say blogging is dead, I am referring to blogging in the niches I am most familiar with and active in ; other niches may be different, ....

I wonder what niches are being referred to here. It never occurred to me that blogging might be "dead". It sure doesn't look dead to me. But then I guess I'm interested in different niches.

Blogging as individuals writing = not dead Individuals with their own branded/hosted sites = on the deathbed

Your using medium as the platform seems to prove your point!