Hang in there, the halls are mostly empty here and you listed off people unlikely to take time for minnows that dont brown nose them regularly.
The early adopter cliques control who gets rewards, for now.
This wont always be the case.
If you are not satisfied with the friends you have, just get out more and comment on folks' posts so you can meet new people.
Id suggest looking outside your comfort zone, too.
People that think unlike you are where the conversations live.