I think I agree with you and that this just might be a good option. The current system is broken, and we can all clearly see the effects (just look at the drop in the userbase... THAT doesn't happen when people are happy!)
I resisted the profit first mentality for a long time, but even I gave in to bidbots. If you can't beat em, gotta join em. However this, what you propose with locked stake, provides an alternative option and potentially re-opens the trending pages to happy users.
We lose the overly rewarded posts on the trending page (not earning real rewards anyway) and regain trending material based on proof of brain. AKA the intention of the platform.