Steemit has flourished a culture wherein those that are contributing content have no more option than quit doing so or resort to buying bots. Except lucky few.

Good point you make. People see others get more for doing less, and by comparison don't want to stay around because it doesn't seem to work for them. But it can take work to make it. It takes time to be seen. Other people paying to become popular is like a cheat and people don't like cheating systems that put them at a disadvantage compared to others.