Is he really the "lead" question writer? I see his co-EP title and that's great, but I'd honestly think that was more of a title than a position. That doesn't mean he can't and doesn't do anything with it, but to me it means he still has bosses to work with and answer to.
Based on the clips that are uploaded to YouTube, Steve answers to nobody. The "another word for mother" question shows this, as he gives a contestant multiple chances to answer and eventually opts to just give her a Strike. Further, the length of each taping is essentially determined by him, meaning it generally takes at least an hour to record one episode.
The turn wasn't all Steve really. The show found success in a genuine "dirty" moment and decided to make more of those happen.
Not so much "make" as it is "forced" (nearly every question uploaded by the official YouTube channel can be given a dirty answer), but yes.
Times change, like it or not. Besides, if my memory is right, Feud spun off of Match Game back in the 70s
That it was (specifically, the Super-Match), although I would say the current era takes its cues from the 1998
Match Game.