I enjoyed your analysis and agree with it.  Steemit is a secret.  Programmers write painstaking code for no guaranteed reward.  Content creators write, design, paint, illustrate for no guaranteed reward.  It's all done in a manner to make the platform a richer environment.  Gifts are bestowed to the content that is deemed the most useful or valuable.  Gifts are also given to those who also use charity to make steemit a stronger community.  Good work.