When I joined the Steemit chain, I assumed it would be another crypto flash-in-the-pan that would go nowhere since I created my account after the initial hype bubble had burst, but I was interested in censorship resistance with any rewards as a nice bonus. I think I had the right mindset for a beginner, because I didn't enter with an assumption I would get rich quick, or even make this my living.
Anyone who wants to thrive here needs to concern themselves with being a good curator, commenter, and creator first. Rewards and reputation may follow, but are not the best endgame.
You're part of the minority I feel like, but happy to have people like you around and hopefully more in the future once they realize how frugal their content/accounts are on the company's databases.