So I just joined steemit yesterday and I spend the whole afternoon proudly writing my very first post. I expected my post would disappear into the many posts that are published every day. But I wake up today to people really engaging with my story, even people taking the time to tell their story in a comment, insane! And eventho I "only" made a dollar, I feel like it's my proudest earned dollar of my life! It just warms my heart people on this platform are honestly engaged.
So yes I totally agree with you: "its the gesture that's most important".
And of course they will be free-riders who are just in it for the money, they always are... But don't we have the power on this platform to identify these free-riders and make them worth nothing?

great post, great comparison!