Well it looks like you have a pretty good grasp on Steemit already. It most definitely seems like a selfish platform. However, as you mentioned there are users who work for the greater good of Steemit and its users. I just shared my very first #newbieresteemday post today. I feel that is a good group of people to get in with and you can tell they care about others. Unfortunately, everywhere we go some people will always be out for their own selfish gain. In the beginning the flag wars were really disappointing to see here on Steemit. After awhile I realized that assholes will be everywhere , as you said though we just have to comment our opinion with respect and it seems to work better. It does make people afraid to comment sometimes though because of the fear of getting flagged. You being one example of that, i'm sorry that you got flagged for something like that.
Something will always go wrong, how we react to what goes wrong makes all the difference. Myself I do not like being flagged for obvious reasons. I will still speak my thoughts where I strongly feel a comment is needed. Where others see a user been flagged for a nonlegitimate reason. I feel the flagger will eventually lose out over time.
Yes, I am meeting what I would say as nicer people, who converse with each other since finding the newbieresteem.