To understand any community you must go to the root, which a majority root of this community is just everyday users, not whales, etc. So as you said, you have to reach the heart, it is there that you'll find truth.

If I had the typical mindset of someone who asks for follows, I'd make it a rule in my contests to follow me. I don't ever plan on asking for follows, if someone follows me I hope it is due to the fact that my posts have something that interests them.

Which at the moment, this post gives users the potential to earn SBD, so I can understand some of the follows. For me, contest like this allow everyone to have a voice that will be seen by many, if even momentary.