We know users will do similar w apps such as dlike but, when it's the only thing the account does, there is nothing redeeming about it. I would be OK if on one hand they are producing quality, engaging content but this isn't the case, unfortunately.

I think that's the key problem with all of this, defining a "quality post".

I just skimmed the surface here (@superheroes) and I've seen at least 3 articles that contained interesting information I personally haven't seen anywhere else.

For example, the doctor who tried to warn about the outbreak died from the virus.

I heard on the radio that someone died and a lot of people were very angry about it, but the primary data point, that the guy had tried to warn everyone before-hand, was completely lost in the radio version.

Automatic news aggregators can be good if people like them (like go.oglenews and FARK and slashdot).

Who controls the @steem account anyway?

I'd be in favor of forcing newb accounts to be sponsored by an existing member. That way, if somebody made thousands of accounts, they wouldn't automatically get 15 (or 15,000) steem-power a pop!