Your post is actually the first I can recall that actually uses the term 'Proof of Reading."
My beef is with the comment spammers, i.e. "nice work, follow me" on 25 posts, the comment spamming bots and the circle jerks upvoting shitty content, like a selfie taken while on my way to drop off a bounce house.
The spammers, I've taken to reporting to steemcleaners and the circle jerkers get muted, or at least ignored.
I've stopped self voting anything, I simply don't have the VP (I don't know if I'll start again once I've got the slider, I've learned not to use the word "never").
I think you're correct, the key is engagement.
And I try to encourage those who I feel are actually putting in the effort to create quality content, whether it's a post or a comment. Sometimes even an amusing meme.
I am trying to get people to use, talk about and invest in those who are really using the site. I think I coined the term - POR.
I think the focus on self-voting has good intentions, but is misguided.
Spreading the concept of quality over quantity to the masses is always the difficult part of growth.