👍 It is a little complicated for sure!
Maybe this will help: Try to think of it like renting.
Let's say you build widgets (upvotes) but you don't have all the tools (STEEM) you need to make them really valuable. Without these tools your widgets are cheap. You could buy tools but you don't have enough money. So there is another option. You could rent the tools you need from someone that has it. So you pay them a fee (10 STEEM) to rent the tools (650 STEEM POWER) for 1 week. Then you can use the tools (STEEM POWER) to build your widgets (upvotes) and they are so much more valuable.
After the 1 week is up you return the tools (650 STEEM POWER) and all is well. You can't build the widgets as well as you could when you had the tools but you didn't have to buy the tools. All you are out is the initial rent that you paid.
Ehh... that isn't the best example by a long shot, but trying to think of ways to explain it. 🙃
I feel much better now thank you so much for your patience with me. :)