Hard + Smart work is a winning formula! Look at what the masters are doing and follow them. In a way I guess you could say that you do use them since your voting weight goes down when you upvote. But I see what you are saying! On Steemwhales poloniex has the most steem tokens! But there is not that much information about the account. A mystery I see!

In the world many do hard work and it doesn't really pay off that much. But when we add the smartness and intelligence and follow the best of the best then we get everything that we want! Being humble is really a major thing in this game. But I'm curious if outside money comes in doesn't that do so the earnings may increase for people? More money more rewards and more fun? Maybe I'm missing something!