"There is the feeling that I and others like me are 'doing something wrong'..."
From my experience in life, I knew well enough to expect this, so I came to Steemit with no other expectation than to have an opportunity, at least for a while, to post what was on my mind, and to hear what others had to say, while hoping to find good people, and important information, I had not run across before.
Accordingly, I have not been disappointed here.
But, I am one of a slim minority on Steemit that didn't come here to reap financial rewards. I expect to work until I die, and live off what I make bending nails. I came here for free speech.
So far, so good. While there are definitely problems with censorship here, too (see @skeptic's latest post) it is a far better, and more accessible, platform than most.
"I have faith in the platform..."
This is unreasonable. Have faith in yourself, and drive the platform to be what you need it to be, or someone else will do the driving, and your faith in your particular vision, will be in the back seat.
I do not expect to be the driver, and do not have faith in anyone, or anything, because I know all things will fall short of perfection. Sadly, the proliferation of bots, particularly those that sell votes, are obscuring the potential of Steemit to be a social media platform, and are creating a currency mining platform.
While that may be fine for you, that will drive me away. I am only here to connect to people, and when the focus on rewards becomes too overwhelming, I will no longer have a place here. I can but hope, as has happened time and time again, that new platforms will arise that are suitable, until they, in their turn, veer astray, as events, developments, and concentration of power inevitably turn them into something different than they were.
At Steemfest in Lisbon, a Steemer reported hearing that highly influential parties related that 'it is only business. I don't care', in regard to issues facing Steemit. With SMTs in the development loop, Steemit is taking a distant second to their concerns.
Set your expectations accordingly, and enjoy what is.