There have been modifications. I'm not sure exactly what they are. Could be tweaks to the algorithm, overall distribution of stories, database modifications, etc. And they have affected stats and pay. I personally took a 50% hit in dollars for August. My Sept payout showed a moderate increase but nothing earth shattering. I take a bit of responsiblity as I didn't publish as much as I normally do. There are a lot of variables. My two cents is hang in there, keep writing, and don't look back.