I think that you're 100% right on this one. The best way to do well from steem is to increase its value. To do this we need to create more demand for it and like you said, spreading it around helping people grow and attracting new users will do this. If people can see that they will have a chance on here there is much more chance that they will stay and get involved.
Its about the long term view and not just what they can get right now. With that said i doubt that they will hand over free delegation but if they even rented it at a better rate that allowed them to still earn but let the renter get a high power amount.