Here's how I see the difference. When we post on our personal blog, we are responsible for the concept, the idea that the post treats. Since this is a fundamentally creative act, and we initiate the introduction of that concept into the world, we are given some credit (not in terms of finance, but recognition of our originating power) by the community.

That's the reason for the checkbox that enables us to automatically self vote our posts, imho.

However, when we comment on another's post, we are merely adding to their original concept. Our voice is worthy of recognition only insofar as it is recognized as a contribution to the author's work. So, we don't have a checkbox to self vote our comments, automatically.

You are right that both comments and posts are equally derived from our work writing. Since that is the fundamental difference between the two that I see, that one is origination, and the other addition, that is why I think they are treated differently.

I just never self vote my comments. I only get 10 votes anyway. When I comment another's post I usually try to upvote the post. However, I may comment as many as 100 times a day (I know, I'm like, addicted lol) and rarely can. I have to be content that my comments (hopefully) add value to the author's post.

I am chafing under the burden of so few votes per day. It may yet be DAYS until I can vote again =/ All I can do is to provide such encouragement with my words, and such value as they may provide to the author's whose work I found interesting enough to comment.

Really, I am not so concerned that people are accumulating wealth by self voting, as I am that they aren't rewarding authors. As you point out, whales self votes are a considerable income, and were they to curate that potential income away, it can be seen as fiscal irresponsibility - they are throwing away income. This is a very strong motivation to self vote, which many overcome to curate anyway.

Minnows self voting their comments just fail to understand that those votes are but a shadow of the value of supporting those authors whose work intrigued them, or whose voices they want to support, because the community they are a part of depend on that mutual support.

The value of the community to each of us is so much greater than what we can give ourselves, that it's hard to even quantify. We think of a community as additive, 1+1+1 more, etc..

But really it's exponential, as each addition to our community is also an addition to each of the members of the community. We don't see those relationships, but they are formed and strengthen the group we are in.

LOL sorry to go off on a tangent. Imma shut up now =p