If you're here for rewards, invest your time accordingly. I am here for other reasons, so I post and comment differently than I would were I chasing rewards.
My only financial goal is to meet my needs, which are simple, until I die old. I am already old, so I'm mostly done chasing money.
My goals on Steemit are much more about interacting with others, to learn what they know I don't.
I think whales on Steemit have pretty much done as you say, sadly. They may have met their goals, but their goals for Steemit aren't my goals. It doesn't matter to them whether I approve or not, however.
Still, I try to persuade them to make changes that will grow Steemit, and better distribute Steem.