"So for a fee, writers can get their work propelled to the front of the queue. " Nope, that doesn't sit right with me either. But honestly, waiting weeks on a publication - big or small - is not my cup of tea either. I'm too damn impatient, probably to a fault. But I'd rather protect my sanity and self esteem by publishing my own stuff, then waiting weeks to possibly be told "thanks but no thanks". That's the part that truly sucks. Good luck :-)