I agree.  It does kinda suck that rep has zero necessary connexion to income.  I also can't help but just see the stark obviousness of @swinn's opinion that this hijean person just "figured 'it' out--" in a way, it *motivates me* to do better.  Personally, yes, of course I would like to make a bit more coin--but hey, frankly I'm just grateful I've made *anything*.  And though I might not be the strongest steemain atm, I have confidence that I *will* grow stronger.  That being said, it kind of saddens me to hear someone like you, @swinn, be so quickly discouraged... Heajin is only one person!!  If he's truly "so bad," then, someone *better*--and that's the thing--there *is* always someone better--then they will show up and prevail.  Then life will go on lol.  *If* you are a capitalist--in other words, a "free market" economist--then by design, you must adhere to the belief that *currency* (money) is a *accurate representation of desire;* the last word being key here.  In other words, the belief that basically the "demand" for a product is one and the same as an agent's *willingness to pay* for it.  If *that* is the case, then, we must agree that, although *we* might not like *x,y,z* that, if people *are* freely *giving them money* that we must--assuming we respect their personal right to spend as they wish and they are doing so "without coercion"--agree the recipient of that "willingness to pay" is *necessarily* providing *some* kind of value.  

So what's the answer?  Simple:  CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS MORE DESIRABLE.  

When I figure out what that is, I'll (possibly) let you know ;)

So @swinn, I challenge you to *stay*--the platform is young--the "quality" *will* improve--but not if all the quality people run off before that can happen!!