This, so much this..."In my opinion, much of this thinking comes from the default action on Steemit.com which votes up a newly created root post immediately."

That was actually a key thing I was looking for as I read your post, and you've definitely gotten my vote.  That is switched on by default, and how many new Steemians are even going to notice or give it proper regard if they do?

Putting an equal amount of both sides of the argument out there is great and I'm personally of the mind, technical aspect of adding noise aside, if it makes the poster / commenter happy or makes sense to them, then who am I to judge?  Let them do their own thing and be happy in it.

A small criticism, though it often makes me laugh, it's "foul" not "fowl-play", and for all I know, you intended that.

A suggestion, take a look at the criticism and outright blacklisting of posters accused of comment spamming their own posts.  Example, I'm the author, I respond to a comment (from bot or human, whatever) and then some arbitrary judge with a "blacklist" comes in and says, "Don't do that or else".  I'd love to hear your thoughts on that behaviour, both sides!!