Tricky business.
Indeed it is and this is why people have to better consider their actions here. As you said, I and you are fortunate in many ways which allows the luxury of passive action but, it has also come at a cost. For you it has been a financial one earned through sweat in the real world and allowed you to take different paths here, me it was a sweat to earn on here through consistent activity. I think that those who have come in after RCs and can't power up from external sources need to think through their expectations and wills at this point although there are possibilities to come.
Those with small stakes have to consider how best to use their stake. There are many options here but it is difficult to do what is best for the individual if they don't understand all of the possibilities, implications and ramifications of their behavior and the external influences that affect them. I am not judging people, I want people to find options that best satisfy their needs and many are unknowingly using their stake in a way that doesn't necessarily get them to where they want to go.
Even if they buy lots of SP, the chance that it will come back to them through others finding their content is very low.
There are new options coming that will change this but that is going to come through new interfaces and SMTs. For many, the better use of their resources at this point might be to support and earn future SMT stake or hold @steemmonsters cards. Every position has risk and reward involved though.