Gangs reward their members.
Steem is a community pool, ganging up to reward the few comes at the expense of the many.
You dont have to accept that fact, but your denial of the truth doesnt make it any less true.
Its a blockchain, if you have any questions the truth is there for all to see.
You really dont have to look any farther than @curie's own rules.
Who do they say need not apply?
Well, looks like your mind is made on this already...haha. I can only advice you try and unlearn what you think you know before now and run a new query on curie.
All i got to do is look in their wallet and their policies to know that they treat folks that don't kiss their asses like second class citizens and that they have enough power to take pennies from every vote made for anybody.
Perhaps you should pull your lips off their ass and look around?
Try to understand the math, eh?
I give up...Smiles
When you decide you prefer reality to your comfortable lies, i will be here.