While I am no expert, self voting for $.02 is not a practical means of gaining SP. However, engaging with others potentiates finding like minded people, and some of them will have votes worth more than $.02. Additionally, you can throw ten votes a day. If you throw them at yourself, you get $.20. If you throw them at content others have created, and comment relevantly on their posts and comments, you will impact 20 people, who each have 10 votes.

Also, as you keep self voting, you get $.20 a day, every day, and never impact others, make no friends, influence no people, gain no followers. If you vote 10 new people every day, at the end of a week you have introduced yourself to 70 people who have 700 votes to cast.

Self voting is a waste of your SP, and your time on Steemit.

Edit: I only mentioned SP and VP here. The fact is that Steemit isn't about money but ideas, and the people who have them. By self voting you are neglecting the real value in a community. Hint: it isn't in their wallets.