if you create an account that's an alt through a service like PeakD you are set as the recovery account
Pretty sure that's right. Accounts I created for others using resource credits etc have the account creator set as recovery account, which is sensible. The 'steem' issue applies to older accounts, AFAIK those created by Stinc.
Good for you for acting on this realisation - it was my lack of action that almost cost me dear.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting :)