There is another factor here, none of this would be AS important if it wasn't being done by the handful of people who can make a difference in earnings. You have 100+ votes and less than a dollar. I have a post right now with nearly 60 votes making 20 cents.
Beyond that, as you eluded to, it really hurts the reputation of SteemIt and our chance to be successful. Not just as individuals but as a platform overall.