Yeah, I saw the view and read ratio numbers on those 2 stories, and they looked very healthy in earnings formula terms. Not that we ever know what those terms are.
I have no idea about Slack, but it seems quite straightforward - private channel with each individual who joins, and 'editorial' for general use. That's all there is so far, and probably all there will be. It's just to avoid the absurd 200 char notes. And maybe have a place for fellow writers to hang out, but we have that on the platform itself.