You make an excellent point. Essentially, those complaining that money trickles up aren't really considering that every up-vote is essentially a Robin Hood type grab and move, just elaborate and indirect.

So okay, I'm going to ask you what you think of this ancient post of mine.

https://steemit.com/steemit/@omitaylor/how-to-increase-the-price-of-steem-newbie-edition

Secondly, I also feel like sometimes I've noticed that there's a lot of demonizing language going on in regard to things that essentially not "wrong."

Let's reframe. If Steem Protocol was the law of god like the universal physics of the actual natural universe, and each interface was a "world" of sorts that sort of had it's own rules too (like earth has gravity) and each sentient lifeform has their conditions, defenses, expectations, etc... how would it be different? Maybe not much but essentially, a lot like different religions fighting over right and wrong when the universe is saying, "Yall are some vain motherfuckers."