Yeah i know what you mean about the value of work some people have put in.. I get frustrated by the 'popularity' of simplistic pictures and 'shit-posts' over well researched and quality content.
Seems to me that SteemIt and every other reward platform have become places where no one is bothered about anything other than their reward, their little focus and slice of the pie.
I got into it as another blogging platform, but too are finding the interaction limited.....
Hope your journey goes well...
Good Luck.