What you wrote explains why I'll move most of my content to Substack and leave only short teasers on Medium. https://lestergolden.substack.com/publish/posts

With 1000+ followers I need only 5% to get a paid subscription after a 7 day free trial because they like my content.

I don't need my Medium earnings. They're just the symbolic representation of respect--or, in this case, contempt. Why commit more time and effort to arrogant tech bros that view their biggest asset--writers--as expendable.

Treat writers like serfs and they hit back by voting with their feet. What goes around inevitably comes around.