I'm not looking to drive people away, but it is up to the community to decide what a post is worth. Attacking people because they did that does not win you friends. I vote for dozens of people and even use what rewards I get from Steemflagrewards to buy votes for them. I very rarely self-vote as it is not up to me to judge what I deserve to get.

Those who downvoted you are part of trying to get rewards where they are earned. What is wrong with that? This is not some 'magic money machine' for us to milk, even though a lot of that goes on.

You are making more than most Steemians anyway.