Handing out your steem to minnows doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. I say go for it! That would be awesome.

Much of the problems you mention new members have to face only exist if people are unwillingly to step up and vote. Refusing to do so is intentionally holding them back. Now, more than ever, curation is important. If people aren't willing to do that, who's to blame? If you'd like to see them succeed, do something. If you don't want to see them succeed, do nothing.

I'll try to help people as much as I can, within reason, little by little. I'm not interested in telling you what to do.