I think you misunderstood what I wrote. I said I don't understand thanking readers for reading. Thanking writers is a whole different thing. They offered you something you enjoyed. I wouldn't usually write "thank you" to a writer, but that's what clapping is for, in my opinion.

Common mistake; annoyed isn't synonymous with offended. I just think it's weird, I'd consider myself oversensitive if I were offended by it.