I would've been nice if I saw such a post when I first came to steemit, but then again I seem to have already done some of the things in the list of concrete things that you suggest people do... and I haven't even done it to improve my reputation.
Being an early adopter sure does give you more time to get to know how things work and it is easier to get to know other early adopters like you while the community is small, but as it grows it will get harder and harder.
When I first learned about steemit, read an article about it, I have decided to check it out, however I did not immediately register and started using it. I had that planned, but the tab with steemit.com remained open for more than a week before I actually registered and started using it properly. Prior to that I was just taking a brief look into it and was still unsure what exactly I'll be doing if I join. Now I know I should have registered earlier and not wait...
Still the experience is experience, as you get to learn and try new things and improve yourself over time :)