Yep this is an issue that has to be addressed or else Steemit will sink into nothing more than just a good effort.

There is so much potential yet so many do exactly what you said. There are a few whales who help others out but, like you pointed out, they will upvote 1% to a minnow while giving themselves or their friends 50%.

Not that they care. Most of them could care less, I bet, if this platform grows. They continue to rake in the bulk of the money that is created through inflation so what do they care?