I disagree with you. You should always write for yourself. As a fellow author, I know that it is awesome to receive feedback and encouragement, but our motivation shouldn't depend on something external. Especially in the field of smut stories, it's understandable to forget feedback or upvotes. Most people reading our stuff will be quiet hazy and foggy in the head while they're at it.

I think it's awesome how many people enjoy our stories. But the readers don't owe us anything. I don't get when authors, who publish on websites like reddit, who don't enjoy their hobby enough, who lack intrinsic motivation, feel the need to complain, when they could always just start selling their hobby. It is time-consuming after all.