Such an excellent article Mitch - no doubt each will have to answer for themselves.
I think knowing we each have unique preference helps us all to not take it personally when some writers don't wish to read our articles. It's just not their "cup of tea" or find it below their standards - and that's alright!
I'm quite open to reading articles regardless of skill level - but what I won't read is an article that promotes an opinion that I find destructive or just plain wrong. I don't clap nor comment. I just walk away. LOL. To each their own...
I think regardless of what a few of us think or prefer to read on Medium, the law of large numbers ultimately wins.
Interesting articles that are poorly written can possibly gain traction on their own, just by their content--if it's that's fascinating/valuable. Well written articles can easily get buried simply because the authors chooses to not engage or couldn't be bothered to spend any time in Medium.
I've seen both cases - multiple times.
Curators and boost editors are on the hunt for those gems - and there are many. I think Medium's efforts to add in more editors over time who can boost will help create the elevation of articles that are well written - again with Medium's curators as the gate keepers.
Knowing this is in place, I enjoy learning from all articles I gather value from.
It's a wonderful platform - and I have a blast reading articles like your own that make me reflect and help me understand my behavior as well as others!
Thanks for the chat! Loved your final analogy! Keep well