I think Web2.0 is about social networks and user-generated content as a response to the lack of understanding of user’s needs from the “publisher side” and rejection of existing content. Because there is no new good content tailored to user’s needs the user him/herself “has filled the gap”. (Tailored in the most general sense. I.e. Not just the content you want, but the way you want it, when you want it and now with the mobile platform it’s also going to be where you want it).
Web2.0 was the easier step from Web1.0 because it was just a matter of asking people to judge, give feedback and produce content and I think we have exausted most of the options now. There were a lot of efforts on building networking tool and in general a lot of progress on the user side (who sets the requirements of the required info) but not enough progress on the server/publisher side to deliver the right content… Also, during Web2.0 there was a rise of blogs because (I think) in a flat structure like internet a blog becomes an authorative source of decent and specific content (ie. more tailored because of the specific interest, chronological order which is easier to interact with “a chairman” who maintains a orderly discussion).
Now hopefully the focus will shift to refining the tools that deliver information to one user. It’s nice to have social networks, blogs etc… but I want to get the information my own way. They can do whatever they like “on the other side of the browser” (e.g. links, pagerank, regurgitating what is already there as you said and other stuff) but I want a tool that tailors “this side of the browser” to my needs…Something that adds the same value that google added to initial websearches… Perhaps, I just want the ultimate Google search

Regarding your last point what you are saying is quite possible. However, as I read once, unexpected outcomes can emerge from unanticipated places and I think creators will always go where there is someone that will consume their content. Like any group where “natural selection law” is applied they will fight for their own survival (e.g. by making sure that the end user is aware of who’s the original contributor) but I think “they will survive”

-Reda

The Web is a place of convenience and the sites with the most content get the most eyeballs. The way to get the most content isn’t to create it, but to aggregate it. Though aggregation has become something of a buzz word of late, it’s just a fancy way of saying produce nothing new.

There needs to be a way to reward originality reliably, something we don’t have, otherwise creators will start backing away from the Web and we’ll have less content to run through said echo chamber.

So, I’m with you on your hopes for Web 3.0.