Commentating is it's own reward. If done with authenticity. It is also strategic in the long game. And it makes Steemit a lot of fun.

Sometimes a post I make gets no comments, but if I respond to someone elses, I often get a good discussion, and not necessarily from the OP!

I got a pleasant surprise one day; noticed that I had made some steem and I hadn't posted anything...then I see it's from a comment I wrote. But the best part was that what I said had resonated with 13 other people and I did not expect it!