Opting for reading time as the primary monetization metric is a wise choice, as it serves as the gold standard for gauging content quality. It's also less susceptible to automated manipulations, unlike metrics like claps or comments. Drawing from my personal experience, I've observed that approximately 80% of my dedicated readers (subscribers) don't leave digital footprints; they use the Medium app solely for reading, without publicly engaging with writers for various reasons. Thank you for these continual improvements for readers and writers.