Perhaps this is not the right platform for you, then? Steem is a completely free open market. Here, popularity is absolutely value. But then so it is at Reddit, Twitter or YouTube.
Of course, subjectively we can both agree that the latter is more valuable for us personally, but it is ultimately up to the community at large to decide what is valuable.
That's why the communities functionality is crucial. Without that, it becomes a huge mess where clickbait reigns supreme.
I agree :) Fortunately, it's coming in the next couple of months.