Read and completed your survey.
You ask some interesting questions. I often find that users ask not what other users can do for them but what bots could do for them. They forget that even though this is a platform where most people are here to earn, it is still a type of social network.
Hunting for bot upvotes, follow for follow and endless resteems is pointless if you do not have something that somebody else enjoys. You will not sustain your gravy train if you are not a "member" of Steemit. You need interaction and friends. Circles and clicks. Others will enjoy your work if you enjoy putting it out there for them.
Steemit is a delicate ecosystem and it takes time to learn the ins and outs of it all. Some strike it lucky early on and other struggles for weeks to make a decent buck. There is an aspect of luck involved. Unless you have friends in high places I say push out consistent quality content while keeping up with all your followers. The only way you will really make a name for yourself here.
Like you said though, time is a factor and this plays a big role when it comes to posting and interacting.
Hope this helps somehow, only my 2 cents.
That's right with regards to the luck part. However, its always good to find out what are the other aspects of Steemit that can be used to make easing into it better.
But about the friends in high places.. Yeah, nothing that we can do but push through and continue to come up with content.
Btw, love what you are doing with qurator. Keep up the good work!