I've observed the same effect. Until very recently it was easy for me to get a quality submission on the front page; I've done it many times. It's getting a lot

I've observed the same effect. Until very recently it was easy for me to get a quality submission on the front page; I've done it many times. It's getting a lot harder to do lately. And the difference I've noticed is that even when a story goes to #1, it drops off to the second page a lot more quickly and there is less engagement. I have no way of knowing, but I suspect this is an effect of pg & co. making adjustments lately to counter abuse of the system.