I agree to the part about how nobody would want to buy Steem from your hard earned money only to reward the community. That makes no sense as I don't think we are in a saintly world yet. Though i do get the idea that the principle is to hold Steem, build a community by contributing with your vp and then make profit by the price hike in Steem eventually. That would also mean selling it off at some point too which if you think about it, in other words also means that you need to give up on the community you helped build and running away with the profit, yes so it's an endless loop.

So I don't see any harm in voting for yourself.

Besides anyone who is investing is in for profit right? Anyone bought off a hundred thousand Steem thinking I shall do some charity work upvoting random strangers?