I agree with you. There is something inherently wrong with this system. I posted something similar (but less angry, although I agree with your annoyance): https://steemit.com/steemit/@lichza/gamification-of-cryptocurrencies-good-idea-bad-idea
What do you think is the way forward? I think part of the problem is the quality of posts is terrible. The interactions between members are shallow. High-quality, meaningful interactions should be rewarded.
Having an unbounded value in a gamified system is risky, given someone will inevitably figure out how to boost it to stratospheric levels. Unbounded values that let the user harvest the reward system, shut down dissenting voices, and protect themselves from consequence? That's horrifically dangerous design.
honestly quite a few of us 'minnows' they call us, have been talking about how earnings aren't really distributed evenly; all votes should have the same 'value' imo; a person with more SP than others should not have a vote that is 'worth' more -- the entire way funds are distributed gives all advantage to those who 'hold more' than the rest of us --- it's not a balanced equation