I used to spend about $30 a day promoting my website with Google and others but right now I think it is illegal for me to spend 1.5 cents worth of Steem a day to promote my blog.

There is a difference you know?...you spend thirty bucks a day to promote a website that other people use independent funds linked only to themselves to subscribe, follow, donate. Here that money comes out of linked pockets as in the way of rewards pool distribution. In essence you are taking their money as profit whether they'd follow you or not. So there is that to consider in comparison. As with most hard folks people just end up picking up the pieces and moving on as best they can. Maybe you weren't milking the system like most were doing but like they say it's always the bad apples that wreck it for the bunch.