As someone who is still relatively new to steemit, and with a tiny following, I can definitely vouch for the value of quality comments.
Being new to the platform, it is unrealistic to expect huge financial incentives straight up. After-all, the value in a post is based on how many people it has reached, and impacted.
You could write the greatest love story in all of history, but if no one has read it, than you have changed/impacted no one life, and hence, while it sucks and seems unfair, your post to society/steemit community is not worth very much (at that point in time).
Quality comment provide a lot of value to both you and the author.
To you (because lets face it that's probably what most people care about), there is an opportunity to make some $$. In fact, while it is a bit sad to admit, some of my comments bring in more than the majority of my posts :P!!! Additionally, by providing quality comments, particularly on good or interesting articles, you create a mini-advert for yourself, signalling people to check you out.
Anyway, that's enough from me. I am writing this literally on the dawn of Xmas in China. So if you're reading this, I just want to say Merry Christmas, and I hope you get to spend the day doing what you love, and being surrounded by those you cherish the most!
All the best,
@strongerbeings
If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, did it make a sound?
The same with posts...they can be great but without readers they are for naught.