Definitely some great points in this post. I find that what separates a lot of my posts from worth the time to not worth the time is the one big whale vote, but I would much rather consistent smaller votes and more engagement on my posts. Don't get me wrong I'd much rather a $9 post with no interaction than a $1 post with lots of interactions, but I'd be happy with something in between.
Slowly working on creating better content, and after reviewing some of my original posts, I have to admit I've come a long way, but know I have much further to go.
I think that the most important thing is to enjoy the content you are creating yourself. If you do, the outcome will be great...No need to stress yourself.