When I use reddit, I don't use the default homepage because the hive-mind isn't always right in deciding what should float to the top. The key to getting the most from Steemit is find people worth following through discord, and through the people you follow, you network to other like-minded people.
In order to get a good experience here, you have to be picky in who you choose to follow. Its not the platform. I have a decent experience here, and the bots haven't ever effected it negatively, but I don't use trending because its equal to the Reddit homepage.
It's very good advice. I never use trending, it's a point on the algorithm. I have showed prospective users steemit and they look at the trending and change their mind about doing it. I am experimenting with different front ends, I heard writer's block is making one that goes on content and not based on the payout size.