Hello, @riverflows, and Welcome to Steemit.

Thanks for the very interesting intro. That type of post is what makes Steemit a worthwhile platform, so let's hope that you can create more such excellent posts.

Like you, I also tend to be the silent type who will not announce my entry or presence in a room. And even if my presence is noticed, I prefer to sit at the far back of the room, either alone or maybe in the company of one interesting person.

Also, my favoured mode of expression is writing, and believe me, Steemit is an excellent platform for that. It will be slow going at first, but with diligence and commitment (mostly to your own progress, but that goes hand in hand with the progress of what will become "your community" here on Steemit) – with that commitment, you will succeed and find this platform to be "rewarding."

(note 1. Even tho I love to write and like to communicate, I found Facebook abhorrent. 'Nuff said.)

(note 2: Your skepticism re Steemit may have some basis, since there is a lot of crap on this site, too. At the same time, there are so many various posts of great quality that the crap becomes irrelevant to us, and we can ignore it ... albeit with a bit of effort. :-)

Below are a few basic points of advice re posting on Steemit.

1. Longer posts are more lucrative than short posts. If you make a post of 20–30 paragraphs, it's more likely to earn rewards.
2. Include some photos, images or graphs, to complement the text.
3. Make sure the text and photos are formatted properly, so that your post looks attractive and appealing.
4. Be yourself.
5. Be interesting and informative.
6. Create quality content. Steemit is intended to be a platform of quality content. (You will see many insignificant posts with meager content and no quality. Most of those of posts [called “shitposts” by Steemit whale Stellabelle] will earn few rewards and soon pass into oblivion.)
7. Get online and start curating. Read various posts, comment on those posts you find interesting, and upvote those posts. That’s the best way to attract followers.

Hope this helps for now. Good luck, and Full Steem Ahead!