puff,
If you can put together this very honest post with a cold, I might need to catch one!
Kidding of course, yet I hear you about botting...as I call it...it's an open market, but like you, I am really enjoying the community here.

I get to talk to an array of Steemians in, I don't know how many countries, cyber met many people with different perspectives, it's like a common united nations, minus Centralization and no Agenda21...lol..

I have just been here 37 days, I could kick myself I didn't get here sooner, but I see the amazing potential, as a vestment and a community, to me they are synonymous. I see others just going for gold, and like you say,
it's cool, go for it.

I tried to use a bot from @steemsmart and went to bed with one vote and woke up and looked at my post and it had 99 votes working up to hot reward numbers. I was shocked...the smartseem told me that they could not find the votes for some reason so try again and gave me back my 7.00sbd which was cool. But this proved that my content was liked in the sea of competing articles.

Which substantiate's a lot of what your getting at in your post. And what I feel Steemit is really all about. I would love someone's help to take me on a higher ride.

Come for the rewards....stay and be apart..of the community...excellent post.

I know...look how long I've written...I might make this my next post! When ones inspired, time does not exsist.
Lynn