I don't think that analogy would work in the current ecosystem. I'm all for empowering each other and compounding value, but the current iteration and crowd of Steemit thrives on competition in the timeframe of their post getting rewards (12 hours and 30 days).

While the network as a whole gains value from this competition, it's easy to get discouraged or desperate when your posts do poorly. Removing this competition completely, however, will surely lessen incentives to excel and do well.

Crabs don't need to drag each other down, and indeed, may do well if they help one another instead. Removing the bucket however, causes them all to spill to the ground and lose their drive and focus. Goals are important to set, and the 'bucket' is an integral part of the stimuli that drive creators to excel.