When I first read tim's post, I made note of the 2 cents issue, but it really didn't register with me about the whole situation. I mean surely something this important would be common knowledge all over SteemitLand, right?
WrongThanks for this heads up @thedarkhorse!

I was experiencing cognitive dissonance first hand.
Wikipedia says...

Cognitive dissonance
In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced by a person who simultaneously holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.

I read the code in Tim's article, but did not accept it.
I even watched a few rewards showing 1 penny payout, not pay out.
Hmm, something's not right about all this...
Then, I read @beeyou's post and it clicked. I accepted the sad but true fact that I (and untold others) had been wasting a ton of my (our) votes.

• Once I was able to accept the truth, the mental discomfort went away. I still did not like the truth, but sometimes you just have to say it is what it is and move on with life.
  • So, until my vote was worth 2 cents I would no longer make a lone upvote. If I see someone who has voted and it's only at 1 penny, I will upvote my penny to make it 2 cents so everyone wins.
    • Then along comes your study shedding even more truth on the subject. So now I have to rethink again and work hard for my lone vote to be worth 3 cents.
• There's 2 ways to look at life.
  • My efforts are wasted, so I"ll stop trying.
  • My efforts have been wasted, so I will double my efforts to reach a point where my efforts will be rewarded.
    • I opt for the 2nd choice.