I guess I 100% see this as a flawed system. When editors are obviously boosting their own stories above other writers, it's a massive conflict of interest. There really isn't any other way to put it. If the content is warranted that's one thing, but when nearly every story an editor writes is boosted, it's not because their diary entries are better than that of other writers (and I don't use diary entries loosely, but with the publications I've seen do this it's 100% what the articles are). It's nepotism at its finest while disregarding other works. Plus, the publications already receive kickbacks from selected boosted articles (aka taking money away from what other writers would be making), so the self-promotion is a double boost for them. I'll just agree to disagree with this concept. I'm simply not a fan of making less on my own articles to support self promoting nepotism.