As someone who runs a publication, I feel it’s important for me to engage with as many of the writers as possible. Is that considered gaming the system? I am aware of someone who put together a group of people to encourage each other, and potentially boost one another’s articles. When I was approached to join, I felt like that was gaming the system. Very much tit for tat in an outspoken way. So, if more than one group of people are doing that then I can see how Medium is trying to figure out how to fix it.
Knowing the rules would be a big help!