I love that you are consistent when YOU write about blogging.   The small blogs have always been my favorite.  I know quite a few examples of bloggers who do quite well financially with a small blog.   Why the obsession with being "popular?"  I would find it a pain in the ass.  And who wants to feel compelled to only write about popular subjects?   Better to write about what interests you.

I agree with you about stats.  The only look at my stats is to get a laugh over how people find my blog. 

I wish quality writing was enough for success in this social media-driven environment.   But we both know several wonderful writers who remain unknown either because they are shy or inexperienced at networking.   I think we do a disservice to new bloggers by not telling them the truth -- that networking and "who you know" DOES matter in blogging, just as it does in any business.   

That's why it would be nice if there was more interaction between bloggers at the different levels of the spectrum, from amateurs writing about their children to professionals working on their novels.   I miss the open dialogue that once existed in the blogosphere before it became obsessed with monetization.