We have to understand that steemit is a unique platform. It is a blogging platform and an online business rolled into one. Although the main focus is on blogging, you can develop the business side of it and build yourself an online business successfully without being a successful blogger. In this case you use blogging minimally as a tool to build your online business.
Rather than blaming the bots, steemians who use the bots to push their posts to tending page and whales, we minnows have to get together, form small communities, help each other and grow fast.
We have formed a small community called "Minnows Helping Minnows". We have a discord channel. Please check it out, if you are interested: https://discord.gg/9fp4XSW
Especially, the sub-channel #minnows-support where there are posts with tips, tricks and strategies to build your steemit business fast.
If you are interested only in the blogging side of steemit. Yes, I have to agree with you, you are really in a though spot. But, if you love blogging, just keep blogging and in the long run you will be able become a master blogger.
But the beauty of steemit is that it gives you a chance to become a master blogger and at the same time build a successful online business. So why not do the both.