You're absolutely right. Large publications only support those writers who have a following more than that of the publication. Even if they reject and respond to your piece, they'll give you a lame excuse to not selecting your piece, when in fact there are shittier pieces lying in their publication. The only difference is, those pieces are written by a celebrity writer.

My piece may not be amazing, but you won't see any new writer's piece there too.. SAME NAMES.

The same piece they reject gets a welcome in smaller publications, because they value content and not a the one providing it.

Thanks for sharing.