Interacting/connecting is defiantly where it's at on steemit.
I've noticed a few people I follow do the same (upvote meaningful/non-spam comments), and I'm trying to do the same now too. We all need each other, as a publisher you need the views/upvotes, as a human it's nice the feel the love from upvotes, and as a viewer it's nice to feel appreciated by the people you're following and voting for.
Certainly is a gratification knowing someone upvoted you.