There's nothing wrong with buying it. I wanted to learn from the ground up to really appreciate the system and its people from all levels, and felt that buying my influence wasn't a good fit for my style. I may buy Steem after this 5K mark, but I'm never quite sure if it's the best move for my funds when they're allocated to other investments I feel strongly about (and seem to be relatively safer investments). I also never had a sense of urgency to buy when earning was possible, albeit super slow and steady.

Don't let my little case put any pressure on you to change what you're doing if you're happy and comfortable. I'm just one stubborn guy trying to make an example for new users who get discouraged.