forgive me if I missed this--tend to start skimming when posts are more than one screen long--but what is the point of upvoting if one sees no value added to the post one voted for?

are we on the mills system here, where even though one's vote isn't worth a penny it does actually accrue some if only slight value?  like a tenth of a penny?

if the answer is no then my first question haunts:  why upvote if no value is added?  for instance the upvote I just gave you--which churned and stirred and then blinked--and your value remained unchanged!?!  why should I not unvote and "save" my votes for where I'll see genuine value accruing to the one I voted for?

thanx meantime for your thoughtful post--following you on this one