The market for Steemit is controlled by Steem. Those that possess the Steem control Steemit, through the witnesses, who are voted in by votes based on stake.
This isn't designed to encourage good content, but rather profiteering, since that's what rewards whales.
It will appear to be senseless if you look at it from a different perspective. The code robustly rewards stake as it is.
It's not senseless at all.
It's profitable.
Yeah I think it really just frustrates people that they push the whole Proof-Of-Brain thing.
A better front end will get made eventually by someone... just gotta wait.