A lot of people are using bitbots/vote buying services to get on trending (or at least get their payout values up). Or they are in some kind of circle jerk. I'm actually pretty disillusioned with steemit at the moment and I don't like the problems (that aren't getting fixed) and all the corruption I'm seeing. I don't think you're missing anything. You're seeing it how it is.
RE: Original Work - Oil on Canvas - Moonlight Mist - 18 * 24