One thing you should probably know, is that not everyone values the same things you do. People do things we think they shouldn't, and don't do things we think they should. When we see this, it is reasonable to assume that those people's interests and ways of doing things probably aren't going to mesh well with ours.
Also, remember that a) minnows only have 10 votes to hand out a day, and your comment really needs to stand out, and b) authors with a lot of comments may not answer all comments.
If you feel an author isn't doing things right, you can mention it, or you can move on. There are certainly people that you will find aligned with your interests and ethics, and those are the people you will most bless with your comments and posts, and whose own comments and posts you will find most rewarding.
Unless you're a phat whale everyone is trying to pander to in the hope you will upvote their comment or post, you're unlikely to get everyone on Steemit to follow you, or respond to you.
Minnows can't cast 1% powered votes. They can only cast full power votes, and they only get 10 a day. If you don't feel entitled to votes, the ones you do get are pleasant support. If you feel entitled to votes, you will never be satisfied, because not everyone you feel owes you a vote will pony up.
Entitlement is your enemy, not users that can't cast a vote everywhere they want to.
Ok, I see what you mean on the other hand I got this comment on one post of mine that was referring to something along the lines of this post:
"I upvote my own work as an affirmation to myself that what I've spent time and energy bringing to birth, is worthy of at least my own recognition. If others enjoy and upvote it, that's a bonus."
So you see that is another point of view and I find it very interesting.
Well, regardless of the philosophical value of the view, it is a practice that deprives one of a vote that could be used to grow one's network. Unless you have enough SP to have a slider, you only get 10 votes a day before you have to let them recharge, so you get 10 the next day.
So, you can cast votes for yourself, and enjoy your $.02, or cast votes for others, and gain their gratitude and attention. Which is going to best improve your Steemit success?