I haven't been here very long but I have to agree with you @smooth. This type of thing does create a hostile environment. Especially if there is nothing showing if the upvotes are somehow abusive.

I see a lot of names in that list that are people actually helping the steemit community also. 

For some reason I've seen at least some controversy over self upvotes. I can see how only upvoting your own content does not help to grow the community. It seems to me though that people who are not abusing it far outweigh people that don't.

 I personally upvote all my posts(it's the default setting in creating your post) and some of my own comments. I do however also support the community with many as well. 

There are certain authors and contests that I really enjoy reading and upvoting.

I'm also very open to suggestions on how I could use steemit better both for the community and for myself.

If what I'm doing by upvoting some of my own things is somehow wrong I would want to know it so I did not continue.