The system as it is has been stupid and counterproductive. It is way past time for it to change.

If I have a story that is curated, in a publication, and it attracts 10k new readers to Medium, I receive $0 for this while someone with a brigade of 50 followers clapping 50 times earns more. Also, if my story is a 12 minute read and the brigades is 3, I have kept people in the platform exponentially longer.

Good writing should be rewarded, not popularity. I am all in favor of this change.