Hahahahaha "...10 people wants to be your friend".
You are absolutely right, many people are not here just for the reward pool, some wants to learn, showcase talent, improve and also socialize. I have lost count on number of people i have known through this which normally i might not even come across in life, let alone talk to. I met some that even live very close to me which i never knew. Really amazing.
Yes, the monetary reward is useful, it's sometimes like a motivation not to easily give up on what we know how to do. We really could use a little but of motivation once in a while. Steemit has been an amazing journey so far and more exciting moments to come. Writing gives me joy and getting my thoughts out there for people to know is super cool too. Thank you for being amazing. Time is money and choosing to reply and give your time and the upvote means a lot too. I don't take them for granted.