Hi Jenny, thank you for the mention.
As for monetizing comments, you can if you choose to meter the comment by making it a story.
As for claps, comments and highlights, the time spent reading adds value ~ which follows, if you are highlighting, it lengthens the read time.
Leaving a comment scores highest for engagement which boosts a post ~ more people see the popular post and that adds to read time value ( if the reader is part of the Medium Partner Program). Even if the reader is not a paying member, views add to a post story relevance. Overall, engaging with a writer’s post all add benefit.
Enjoy your weekend 🥰