Couldn't agree with the minnow assessment more.
I only joined 4 days ago but have felt lost in navigating the seas.
Even after reading FAQ after FAQ or "helpful" post after post after post

I've used voting bots to try to boost my earnings, more so to get visibility since I quickly came to the conclusion that the bots aren't worth it unless you get lucky and are the only bidder so you can claim the entire pie.

I've responded and upvoted to the people who have commented on my posts. I follow those who look interesting or umm polite for lack of another word.

I cashed out the last of my BCH and went all in on steem to get me a jumpstart only to find out my 100% votes are worth a pitiful $0.03 per upvote. 

I've raised my rep to just over 47 in the 4 days I've been on the platform.

It would seem like I've done a lot of the "right" things but the payoff is so tiny I can see why anyone who doesn't have $1K to invest is frustrated.

I thought jumpstarting my steem power would allow me to help other new people but not at 3cents a vote it won't

At this point I'm desperately trying to find out how to get the attention of those larger than me, to be taken under fin, to be mentored, educated in Steemian life and possibly make more than $0.10 a day. 

Speaking for myself I refuse to be on of those people posting 20-30 pieces of crap a day just hoping for a few pennies a day. I will only post quality pieces I would also be satisfied to post on my blog. My 4 day assessment is that there is far too much crap such as pics of memes, with 4-5 words, or just a basic link to an article elsewhere without even an opinion or digest written and the reason for the flood of those is that it seems to be a quantity, not quality game. The more you post the more chance you have to be seen, to get that one big score, whatever the reason.

Hopefully a project like this, that rewards the intent and content, will be able to change some of the culture and give the devoted minnows a chance to swim in the clean, clear waters of the deep oceans rather than the foul, polluted rivers we start in.

Thanks again for the project and reading this rambling.