Faruel
I don't know where I should start from these comments... hummm, let me try to explain not as a reader but as a contracted writer. So you might be surprised by my bluntness.
Words can be defined subjectively by humans. For example, your premium means an object or amount that exceeds the standard or the best of a given selection. when "premium" is normalized it ceases to exist. and mine just means that there are locked chapters. Excuse me for my low thinking capacity. I try to be complicated but my simplistic view cannot be bent. For me, premium is just a word they use to make everyone know that this translation has 1.) many many loyal readers and 2.) contracted or owned by the company.
Concerning your views about rewards... What do you mean by that? Rewards- is it earnings? I don't get it?
If you are talking about earnings...
Webnovel, in my opinion, is merit base. So every premium novel who already has locked chapters receives benefits as long as people unlock it. That is a fair treatment to all. If premium novels are consistent in posting their chapters then please be at ease because they are rewarded with the amount of what they earned. I have only been premium for a month and had earned some because of loyal readers. So those premium novel that has been continuously posting their chapters are also earning more than those that premium translators/writers that do not release as much UNLESS it is not as popular.
Entering this kind of platform means that the POPULARITY of the work equals EARNINGS and REWARDS. No matter how much we original authors like to have our stories known more, it cannot be helped that translations are more popular.
GENERALLY, the rule is; If premium translators/writers do not release chapters they are the ones to suffer. Like for example; (Using authors because I have no idea with the translators but I think they are the same) Premium Writer A released 10 chapters this week while Premium Writer B release only 5. Of course, Premium Writer A would be the one who earns more UNLESS Premium Writer B has 100,000 thousand readers and Premium A only has 5,000 readers.
POPULARITY, the reason why some people in Hollywood needs to spread their legs to gain it. It earns cash. That is the world we live in today. The best way you can help lesser famous novels is to help promote and support them to the top rather than drag the ones that are already on the top.
Webnovel have features to help lesser-known writers to rise from the top. You can see it on their homepage. My book has been in there sometimes and my readers rise if I am featured, but ever since being on the top 20, it is to my disappointment that I haven't had the same exposure as before.
And the self-imposed scheduled by the translators? I do not know. Us, original authors, are encouraged to post at least two times a day. As long as they are already premium, it has already been set into stone even if they post regularly or not but we are strongly encouraged to post. If they fail to meet their posts, they are the ones that suffer because some readers are not loyal and would switch from one translation to the next. Such is the world. The only thing I can advise you to do is advertise the novels you think are best so they can gain more popularity than those that you hate.
P.S. This is an explanation is from my own side. Sorry, if it is long. I like writing long replies.