You are making a good point here.
But essentially it is just a mirror of real life.

If you have no power and need support, you have to suck up and play nice.
Once a certain status is achieved, you don't have to do it anymore. You can ignore, unfollow, vote down as you like.

This is what "power" gives you, the liberty to do as you please and to influence other people.

The good thing about steemit though is that it appears to keep the real assholes away who post nasty comments just because.

If social pressure or maybe even greed causes people to be nice it still creates a sort of pleasant environment, even if it is not 100% genuine.