SteemIt isn't "sold" as anything. It is just a platform where some people earn Steem from "Stake based voting" meaning the more stake you have the more your vote matters. There is no promise of quality content, no promise of earning, no agreed upon marketing plan. Anything you read that lead you to believe differently was just someone's opinion.
People use their stake in upvotes and downvotes however they choose, others watch and comment, but that is about all there is to it.
If it feels like a waste of time to you, move on. If it sounds like an opportunity, stay... How the game is played relies only on you and your stake.
Enjoy