Am also in the top 10% of writers

1) is incorrect in my case. Best stories for me are between 8minutes and 12 minutes in length.

2) May be true, haven't written any fiction.

3. Good advice.

4. Opinion pieces are my bread and butter - and professionally I am a Penguin. If you have an opinion piece and you've got an opinion you've thought about then Medium is definitely for you.

5. The 'Lament' piece is a variation on the 'tub-thumper' piece. Writing anything a large crowd of people will agree with. Medium is starting to address this, but it's still a big earner for those with an audience big enough to leverage. Five years ago it was 'getting up at 5am is good for your wellbeing' Four years ago it was 'isn't Trump awful', two years ago it was 'aren't white people terrible' and now it's 'men, pffft, what are they good for?' Clap clap clap yourself to the bank.

Medium are addressing these things slowly but surely - because what the community wants is quality writing. - and what we tend to get is a lot of things that aren't.

Write long. Write better. Write for yourself, ignore the money and it will come in time. :o)