Me and @rouketas had both in the past (and probably will do so in the future) use own funds to promote steemit here in Greece.

As for your last paragraph the snowball effect is real, And it is the biggest part for me not having enough time to paint. But I am really enjoying helping people out and guide them around steemit and the how to's of it. I know at some point I will get the time I need to be more productive for my blog and generate more attention but at the moment I am so socked in to share what I got from steemit with the rest of my local community.

Recently we helped a man to save his house. With your votes what seems to be a lost cause became an ez pz task for some fellow steemians (a greek couple that lives at northern Greece), There isn't much more I could wish for right now of a beta platform.

People like you deserve praise and appreciation. You are putting your money where your mouth is and you are helping thousand of people all over the globe.

I am not a tech genius either but I do believe that where there is a will there is a way too. We will find our way and our place on the global social chart eventually.