I dont really check trending anyome either.
Mostly I am checking hot since new is often flooded with really bad posts.
But to be fair some of the authors deserve to be on the trending page. I dont mean the ones with the generic content which reminds me of instagram but there are some really talented people there also.
Saying this I agree it can be frustrating if you feel your content gets overlooked all the time but as I see steemit it is about building relationships to your audience and of course building this audience in the first place.
I am right there with you with the Instagram feel!