How do you feel about — rather than taking another shot at reinventing the wheel — we simply randomize voting order at payout... ?

Everything could remain as is, but every post would turn into a fair curation reward lottery. It won't matter who votes when or how. Some days people get skunked, other days they hit the jackpot. Auto voters can't snag a better position. Late voters/actual consumers/contributors aren't topping up the wallets of noncontributors. Every vote is an equal opportunity.