I get what you're suggested, and I'm still super new here, but ... for me, I haven't seen it as a problem.

I'm not trying to game the system, or maximize it, or anything -- I just up vote stuff I like. In that sense, the micro transactions are invisible to me.

Like you, I visit sporadically and just up vote stuff I like.

I don't up vote many things mainly because most of the stuff I can easily discover is crap. Discovery being hard is also a UX issue -- and probably a MUCH larger issue than any voting mechanism stuff. Items that can get found easily will get voted on.

Probably lots more to think through here. Like, that there is essentially a technological arms race already. The have-nots will be those that only visit through steemit.com, the haves will build/buy/fork tools to make it easier to find stuff, post, vote, etc. etc.