I think one thing you need to realize is that while we are well aware that Steem is the platform and Steemit is a frontend, the first frontend, people outside of he platform still associate the platform with Steemit.

We can either spend our time trying to educate them or just recognize the vote is about the platform. Positive votes, especially on a site like Hacker Noon, is marketing that so many are complaining isn't happen. Organic marketing is gold IMO.