How about making it so no one can see the like count on a video to keep curating pure. Let the uploader see the count and the payout and after the payout, you publish the results.
Steemit right now has a very big sheep mentality where people don't actually curate, but, instead follow other people's lead. Hiding the vote count and payout should be used here as well, that way, the content gets judged by it's merits not by jumping the popularity train.