Great read. I like honest people not afraid to raise concerns. In fact, I've seem writers writing about this very thing (attacking those adding this message - requesting readers to read for 30 seconds etc). OK maybe they don't agree and I think there is a point to that but for heavens sake, give it a miss. Let writers write as they want, and learn themselves what works. There are too many "Indians and bit enough Chiefs" ruling the roast. Too many dominating and as you say, writing about writing on the platform. Honestly. I understand, like everyone else stats are important but if I read another story about how someone on medium made blah blah in Jan, Feb etc, and how YOU can do it too, if you do xyz. This isn't what writing should be about. It's self promotion directed along with boasting looking like it's helping others. Admittedly it does sometimes but all too frequently it doesn't.