>>18056383
To sum up: give incentives for being creative, be generous when you can coax someone into doing something they're not optimized for, and (I just remembered) while they probably want more permanent Magic Loot try to tie _everything_ to someone or thing of significance in the campaign. Stylish, legendary, memorable, or merely distinct, loot is ultimately FAR more enduring then the usual "+1 Longsword of Blandness." Design patterns, unusual materials, curious inscriptions, whatever. Go Cool, and even sparse loot will be ravenously sought after.
To offer a parting metaphor it's kind of like Weeaboo. Back in the day when I was, I totally didn't give a shit if anyone thought it was a violation of good taste to think adding Japanese to anything made it better.
I moved past that.
However, now I miss the genuine enthusiasm and blind glee of those days. Now I am more restrained and I "know better" but something of innocent fun has been lost, and so I moved forward again.
I'm still discriminating and dignified, but when I can totally wig out over Catwomen or whatever I do just a little because it's fun to recall being less inhibited if a lot more That Guy.
Your players may be playing to an audience composed of each other, and if so that's helping things go awry.
Hope all this helps.
I.L.