There's a lot of issues here, a lot of people are noticing it, saying things, posting on it, etc. Something is amiss, like your comments say.
Good post.
I said it on some of my posts recently that are really well put together posts, lots of work, good formatting, GOOD TOPIC tags and interest online, etc.
The same bunch of authors are being pushed and rewarded by the whales no matter what they post most days. I have been watching this for weeks.