I like that you said straight up what you do like and prefer, which actually gives an idea to the writer - and the reader - of what you're into. I appreciate that even though I'm positive that you'll probably never read my stuff because it's not among your interests.

Sometimes it's simple as that. Target audience vs. everyone olse. Medium's metrics not necessarily reflect the improvement of your writing. You can adjust to trends, branch out, explore uncommon topics to appeal to readers here, but that's not necessarily means that you grew as a writer. When I write a piece and feel that it turned out be the closest to what I imagined it would be, I feel that I did something better than yesterday. That feeling what pushes me the most. Even if less people read it than they do some other pieces of mine.

That's my take on it, anyway.