I can just wholeheartedly agree on what you've just said.

Additionally,
not only does "Powering-Up" bind STEEM into SP and thus raise STEEMs value, but it also helps the curator and author in the long run as well.
By having more Vests/SP/VP, one can not only generate more for oneself by curating, but also gift more to those authors he deems worthy of support.

Oh, these sinister, bad, evil curators! Using their vote to reward content that they deem worthy of support instead of voting for themselves or just for the highest bidder. Help, they have to be stopped!!!

Furthermore, I lol'd. Agree here as well.
When curators are not willing to upvote anything you post, you might need to consider why that would be the case. ;-)