The problem here is that, as you say, Medium seems more comfortable serving simply as a transactional content delivery platform. Hence the substandard comments functionality, absence of workable direct messaging, and failure to embrace Mastodon.

But it turns out to be very good - despite itself but thanks to us - as a social media construct - and absolutely useless for content delivery, as the distribution algorithm is utterly hopeless and incapable of detecting, responding to and satisfying readers' likes and interests.

Without community engagement, we may as well post into the void of Blogspot, or whatever it's called these days, or not at all.

Or build a publication here, then transfer it to its own off-platform URL, as others have done in the past.

Medium essentially functions as a burger van at a festival - churning out any old crap, and relying on the fact that new punters keep queuing up regardless.

Which is an odd corporate ambition, it seems to me.

But I'm sure the Tony'n'Buster tag team know what they're doing...