What da fax is “relational distribution mechanisms?!" I worry this logo shift is just one more example of Medium trying to overcomplicate a good thing.

What's the most valuable part of Medium?

It's simple: the writer. And the greatest curator of writer's content isn't Medium staff nor a "publication" editor... it's the reader. If a reader is going to take the time to clap/follow someone then don't hide their content beneath what you think the reader wants to see. The reader has already told you! Just listen! Be more like the YouTube of writing (I promise Medium will make more money) so if YouTube is a "play button" then be a punctuation mark like... an ellipsis, which if that is the intent then I welcome the change. :)