You're thinking about it all wrong. Don't get lost in the gamification. SO is intended to create a repository of useful answers to useful questions. If you provide a useful answer to a question which gets views, people will read your answer. Over time, many people will read your answer - and that is your "return on investment".

(Also, if many people read your answer and approve of it, then eventually you'll get some votes too.)

Having said that - there is some merit to sticking by the (nastily-enforced) standards. It does get people to improve their answers. Not saying that I approve of people's conduct on SO - it can be quite terrible.