Okay all your points are valid. Now, let me ask you this...

How many people do you think want to sign up to compete in basically an Author Competition?

How many people might want to join a global site where they consider themselves partial owners and the more they own and contribute the more they get back out?

Which model encourages people to sign up and power up?

I hear you point, making a shit post and botting it up or having your whale friends upvote can be discouraging. It is also discouraging and limiting to pretend that many people have hours of free time to make posts and hope they get judged as one of the best.

If the platform were to grow... what would be the motive for those Non-Authors to stay or buy?

Again your points are valid, but also consider the value of the platform and not just Author's feelings.