I've only been writing on Medium for two months, have less than 500 followers and still got one. So I agree with your point that it's not just mega-creators. I also agree on the whinging; it's tedious, and I instantly mute bonus articles. That being said, those "how to get the bonus" articles from people who have received it are also super annoying. I wish people would just accept that they did or did not receive one, shut their pie holes and continue writing about the things they love. But alas, many have struck oil and realized that talking about money on Medium is a surefire way to make money on Medium. Great article, Kristi!