Right, but it’s important to note that what you’re asserting relates directly to a specific motive with respect to one’s writing — namely, optimizing *online writing* solely for generic SEO purposes. So, if you’re running a blog that needs to gain the highest number of *general* eyeballs, regardless of a target demographic, then all of that is spot-on (and tons of articles exist on the topic to help anyone strategize for that).

But, for novelists, for example, they probably wouldn’t aim for those metrics. Or, even for online writing that is more targeted, those specs could (and do) change accordingly.

I think writers attract their audiences via their writing. So, if you write at a 7th-grade level, you may well attract those who are most comfortable reading at that level. You may well attract a larger audience in that manner than if your writing clocked in at, say, a 12th grade level. And that’s okay, of course, if you’re also okay with that.

Those grade levels are a funny thing, btw. I’ve seen examples of what a 7th grade level means today, and I’ve seen incredible examples of what that meant a century ago. The comparison is rather stunning, and telling, regarding the direction in which our society is heading.