I'm part of the freewrite community where many Steem newbies are supported by a few SBI cents while they cut their blogging teeth. It's not much and it's not even on every post if you're a frequent poster, but it's a bit more of an incentive than a big fat zero. A lot of us use it to acknowledge and support someone we think is adding value (whatever that is), a sort of keep up the good work.

As to the argument that it's money for turning up, couldn't you say that about everyone receiving an auto vote? And what of self-voting? I don't see much proof of brain required there.