I think that the way you comment is much like a post anyway - it is thoughtful and considers the content well. This is "active consumption" and then reflection.
it took awhile before I was comfortable making comments but now I don't feel strange about commenting on post from total strangers.
I had this for a long time too and I have found that on unknown accounts, I probably still comment with less words, but I think that this might be because I am not sure what kind of response I am going to get. I am not a fan of writing a few paragraphs for no response, which is why in general, I respond :)
My small steps one day they may lead to giant leaps in writing.
For sure. I think that just the exploration has value and if you have the time and will, why not?
It is a consideration on new accounts that I run across also, whether brand new or an old account I have never commented on. On some of the older accounts, people that have been around for awhile, I am still pretty cautious, but with the newer ones, not so much a little bit so as not to scare them off since they may be used to only-'nice post" or nice picture, or "nice Video" -comments from their previous haunts.
On the older accounts, I sometimes check what their comment history looks like - I dislike seeing (especially highly rewarded authors) who have more open posts than comments, and their comments are like "thanks" - annoying.
Yep, I have seen a lot of the thanks only comments from some highly rewarded content. They of course will say they just don't have the time to respond to everyone, I do understand that when there is 150 comments, but I have seen others with as many comments respond, like you, your brother, Asher, Marky, and other people that get a ton of comments at least try to get to most of the comments.
They don't mind claiming their rewards though ;D
or replying to those who have stake.