Well said and mirrors my admittedly shorter experience on here pretty well. I just self published a piece because the publication it would fit in isn't accepting new writers, and I don't see the point putting it in some of the pubs I know will publish it where it will not get any more reads than if I do it myself, even at a third of your following. I really don't see the point of these publications that just churn out content and/or bury it, as you have written about and obviously dealt with on a deeper level yourself. I am excited you started your own, I know you won't phone it in or hack away at people's work without telling them about it! Best of luck Terry!