Ah, in the end I'm too lazy and too small to play the maximisation games.

I am the same and it takes the fun out of it for me to try and maximize.

It is relative, as for the large accounts, the difference might seem much more in Hive, but then, they likely don't care that much either way, much like yourself. Many do though at all levels. I see a lot of accounts maximizing with very little stake when they would be better off doing something that adds value and gets support-.

Likewise, I think it will definitely bootstrap a follower and curation audience, but will it be a lasting and meaningful following?

Unlikely - how many of the "bidbot trenders" are there still here? I think where this app has its real merits is in running lotteries and the like. I could see myself charging up a kitty, then having it randomly go out to curators on a post - kind of like a surprise or, the same thing for engagement posts like Galen runs.