I am brand new, and your concerns, are very rightfully correct. I ave written 2 posts so far. I am apparently of the few who really don't care about the coin behind the platform. I do however care that I keep reading about "elites of the site" mass voting to keep people from earning, that popularity has everything to do with if your post will or won't be removed, and similar types of things.
How can anyone take a writing platform seriously if their content can be removed and deleted (or hidden from public) at the vote of a mob? I am already second guessing using this as a platform on that stance alone.