There is a simple solution to all the negativity. The devs just need to change the front page from trending to "hot".
The stuff on the hot tab moves faster and so you get exposed to so much more.
People get mad seeing the same post sitting on the front page day after day accruing money - they wouldn't get that impression if the hot tab was the home page.
I tend to agree that the solution might be as easy as a UI update, but getting the devs to do anything... isn't so simple. :)