I agree that writers on medium should be paid for external views. My most widely read articles - a few viral- have been 98% external- earning very little on those.

I also share your experience of a senior not being encouraging but it was only one person who told me to keep my daily WordPress blog. I have but it’s not because he told me told to. I think he’s a little pompous - not someone I read regularly.

I’m generally very leased with the support from other writers on medium.