>Like playing a competitive video game and thinking that as long as there are numbers/measurements attached, I might as well win! 

While it can add a lot more, Steem is already gamified in many ways and I think is the best online multiplayer game out there :) 

>I have learned so much on that investment including that there is no profit unless I dedicate my efforts to the community and eco system here.

I believe that over the next two years, this will change significantly where more people recognize where the value really is and start pushing their stake into value adding activities. This will be pushed along by SMTs that'll be the earners too.