But would you really, Susie? The idea that publication editors have, what seems to me, an unfair advantage of boosting their own stories has made me reluctant to submit to certain publications where I suspect this happens.

If publications serve mostly to boost, literally and figuratively, the editor's own ego and money, what's the point for lowly writers?

I don't believe this is true of all publications, but knowing that this happens, it's hard not to feel a bit cynical about the whole boost program.