Um yes, reputation is very indicative of the money earned... people randomly vote for higher rep because there more likely to be upvoted by a whale.
Low rep people are mainly passed over.
Quality doesnt = money

If the system was good people would be piling in by the masses. Comon, you get paid to blog- this shit should be viral and everyone +grandma would be using it. Instead everyone is leaving because of the pathetic circle jerk that is clearly obvious, even new users see this right away.