Bingo!

It sounds scammy, and experience tells me precisely who it attracts: A group of people I have come to think of as money for nothing seekers.

I found Steemit somewhat "late" (relatively speaking) and almost didn't join at all after seeing several versions of promotions all centered around Jeff Berwick's now-famous $40000 post. I looked at that and wrote this off as a lost cause.... I thought "These people are SO. FRAKKING, STUPID. to pitch that as a the primary attractor."

"Welcome to Steemit! Where 'Pay it Forward' is more than a clever saying!"