But I'd rather upvote my content than not upvote anything at all if that's the alternative.

That is a false choice, you could join a voting trail to keep your account off 100%.
Or, you could go down the created feed and vote any post with less than 2hbd on it.
Takes but a minute.

More than anything, I don't get why this offends you so greatly, do you not have any bigger problems in life to worry about?

Well, like I said, you aren't breaking the bank, but having been here since before the creator left, call me old skool.

Selfvoting, vote selling, and ganging up to increase rewards break proof of brain.
Those that act solely in the interests of roi, and especially those dumping on the markets, harm the rest of us that would like to see hive moon.

We could be selling at 5usd right now, but people are willing to sell for anything they can get.
It astounds me that the crowd keeps voting them rewards.

You realize this, right?

Yeah, I get it.
I'm just starting my 1000 mile journey with this one step.

Honestly, I don't really care, but you tripped a consensus wire, and I had to weigh in because I just do that, sometimes.
It seems to me that you have served your purpose, setting parameters for flagging, and I doubt we trouble you much further.
But, I am just one guy and can't speak for the others.

Have you been flagging abuse?
It is your duty as a hp holder.