Excellent write-up, @geekpowered.  I could not have written this whole article better myself... but I have to pick a couple of points for discussion or I'll be typing forever.

Firstly, I particularly liked this bit: 
> I myself have written the better part of a book on here, and have only gotten a dollar and change on some chapters, or even less. **Of course, I also have some fans that really like it.**
<sub>[Emphasis is mine.]</sub>

Yes. You do. So where _is_ it, instead of this garbage? Nah, just kidding. But only about the garbage part.

> In the end, the only thing that works is making connections.

Perfectly said.

 Many people are not willing to put the work into this, and they even resort to calling this "unfair," or complaining that it makes Steem a huge exercise in "circle-jerking" (not talking about your last post here; that's a different issue; one on which we agree, as we have discussed off-chain).

I have a feeling that many people complaining about the relationship-building aspect of the Steem ecosystem just have some social difficulties. Making friends is not hard here. Steem, by its nature, economically rewards the act of _not being a dick_ (so you're doing it wrong, GP... but only in the most literal sense).

As you said in other words... those who are willing to put in the effort to genuinely _network_ with others will have the best time here. The rest? Meh. They can leave and take their attitudes with them. We don't need them.