Thank you @denmarkguy, I appreciate your comment.
I like what you say about your perspective and to see rewards as a consequence. Very true.
I'd still be writing and interacting, if there were no Hive.
This. That is pure gold. I had already stopped using Facebook when I joined Steem, but I was still extremely active on dozens of internet marketing forums, within FAQ sections on various marketplaces etc. With time, as I eventually quit freelancing, I stopped being active on those sites but I continued with Steem. Not because I had a chance to earn money, but because I still wanted to be active and share content somewhere.
The money (or rewards) was just a lovely bonus, but that wasn't what lead me to quit other places.
If I had been focusing on the rewards more than anything, I would've done things very differently. I would have tried to please my audience in different ways, I would have chased dolphins and whales. I would basically have done anything and everything I could to score some juicy upvotes... But that's not who I am.
I would never let money or fame steer my actions or change me as a person.