Excellent post @bjgeese! Sadly, only just finding it, but "it's the thought that counts" is the old saying ...
"... really only on steemit because it's an investment to me ..."
Looks like we're "on the same trail," as that is exactly where I was for literally months. Belatedly came to the realization we can both enhance the value of our investment by contributing. And ... Here we are ...
Keep up the (occasional) great work!! 😊 👍
P.S. For me and I suspect many others, perhaps you, the issue is not interest so much as time. Never enough of it and how "wiset" is it to spend it "in here" ... Well, still working on my own answer ...