Great points. I think the people doing this sort of thing are trying to help but it can backfire as it encourages just the sort of game playing that @noganoo is pointing out and dose not reward those active participants who have stuck with it and helped to build the community.
Ultimately these issues will resolve themselves or Steemit will lose it's place to a competitor which does it better.
That's the beauty of the free market.
Well said, and good point @thecryptofiend.