In reply to Alec.

There are a lot of good writers - that's not the issue. The issue is the fact Medium has found itself sucked into the vapid click-bait content mill syndrome, where too many good writers don't find an audience and so they get demoralized. Here's a prime example of the click-bait crud currently on the home page (logged out state):

- Addicted to Failure: Three Billionaires on How to Win the Game of Life - Don't think of the future of computing as the iPad or the PC - the future is everything, everywhere - Sex Tips from Queen Catharine the Great - I quit toilet paper for a month

As you point out, because of these types of articles getting the Medium love, respected writers are quitting and going back to their own content area, whatever that may be powered by.

A monthly premium isn't going to encourage these guys to come back.