To me it is meaningless. It lacks the creative interaction and a creative mind. Actually, it turns out to be a CREATIVE DEALING which is not acceptable.
Writing is an intellectual work so why should it be treated as mere business? Let writers be writers.
I agree that it is meaningless without an actual feeling of kinship or admiration for a fellow writer. But I'm an old-fashioned person who prefers to actually relate to people if I express interest in them. And if the relating is based on writing or any creative effort, there needs to be a sincere interest in theirs.
Numbers are meaningless except - as you express it creatively - as "dealing" - which is meaningless to me, as well.
As long as you know what they are writing about and agree or respect it I don't see a problem with it.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.