I think my thinking is pretty much aligned with yours. It's mainly posts and engagement. If I could add one more point for myself, when someone follows me, I will almost certainly reciprocate, because I feel that is a form of courtesy.
I guess everyone uses Hive for various objectives. I know people who just like to write and post as though it is their personal diary/records, and might be so active on the engagement bit, and I think it's also fine too. And some of us see Hive as more like a town square and we interact more actively other people, and that's fine too.
Yeah, the follow for follow thing happens, but aintend not to do it or I'd be following 4,000+ people. I get that it's seen as a courtesy, but that opens up the chance to have content that doesn't interest me (gaming or mushrooms or veganism for instance) in my feed. I don't see the value in that.
Like you say, people use it differently.
Hehe you are too popular!
Nah, I get followed because I have a large stake.
🤣