Many aren't interested in participating at that level or taking the time to objectively research the witnesses. It's a pretty sad state of affairs all around and its ourselves with the responsibility to educate the user base. The learning curve to blog and process funds is steep enough as is. Worse than abstaining is blind voting since we've got witnesses now who think they're "mining" on the "steemit blockchain".

I'm pretty low ranking as well. Hard to get up there without supporting some of the flashier projects and being a yes-man. The way I see it is our responsibility is to the blockchain first and foremost. Keep at it.