This has been true for me, in every case where I've had friends and family look at Steemit, since 'trending' is what comes up first. I explain that some of these top posts are just a way of getting earnings to people doing other services for Steemit. But then it sounds even worse -- like it's a way for an employer to make those people pay both employee and employer taxes in a gig economy. If people don't want to trigger tax issues, then they could set up regular transfers as gifts, not earnings. Otherwise, if the process was completely transparent and it's about payment for services, the top trending posts would simply be receipts for those services, upvoted in the same way the articles are now. Or the articles would look more like what we see from the witnesses, where they describe what value they've been creating behind the scenes.
For writers I have brought here, I have to keep saying, "Do not compare your writing to what's on the trending page. It does not represent readership value of those posts." Writers who are trying to evoke emotion and connection with readers may be more sensitive than me about getting feedback on whether they are "good" at their craft or not. But that sensitivity exists and I've seen them spend so much time trying to dissect what it is about the trending posts that are connecting with people -- as a way to improve their own writing. I keep saying "that's not what the trending page is about -- do not do that!" An engagement-based tag, like you've been suggesting, would help shift their focus to something more productive. It was easier when I could direct people to the Active tag instead of the Trending tag.
I think it says a whole lot that the rewards pool is not representing the community and that you have to give that disclaimer. I no longer bring people to SteemIt for many of the reasons discussed in your comment and in this entire thread. I would like to recommend it. I just can't in good conscience ask people to come here and watch this and expect people to understand the whales are "paying" people with their votes instead of voting up content.
THIS: