Hi Robert, you stated it well ~ Medium is a business and here to make money.

I disagree with the boost program and payout. It mucks up the algo in backend in so many unfair ways. The result is lower views + reads for those not boosted. Not every boost deserved it either.

Prior to 2019, Medium was paying pubs ( their editors for their efforts) . Select pubs. I was friends with a a pub owner who was paid $10k US monthly at the beginning. None of this is new to Medium.