This is not quick rich scheme, you have to undergo a lot of learning before you can start to receive rewards. When that happen, your achievements will start to surface. Look at my blog, got only few rewards but even so I am not stopping because I'm having fun. I heard negative rumors like what you are posting but I believe on the founder of steemit. They didn't just founded this community out of something, they have precise and specific plans for the community, I just don't know what it is but I believe in them.