James, initially, it paid to have one's own publications. It doesn't anymore. What pays now is to submit to publications, have them boost it (being friends with the editors and writing something people want to read helps), and it makes a hell of a difference.

I earn substantially less because I don't submit to publications and, therefore, my work never gets boosted.

The reason is I simply don't like being told to change my work, or having somebody tell me I have to change something in order to cater to a particular demographic. I also don't like waiting fir a few days. Other things I don't like as well.

And I don't like substack either. Not because I wasn't earning, but because there is an element of commitment involved, plus I don't like sybscription models.