So,...I'm just starting to get my head around Steem so apologies if i've misunderstood: Surely you can just post original content, get upvoted and earn money that way ?

So a novel gets published for 'free'. Anybody can read it without making payment. People read and upvote it - the author earns Steem. Currently this post is at '$221.34'. There are badly paid authors for poorly performing books that got paid that amount - but thats what you've earnt for a mere post !

You paint a painting, take a photo and... the same. And thats without even selling the physical original.

Am I missing something here ?