That would be a great fix! It's also possible for them to clap on the articles listed below an article without clicking on it.

I don't have an issue if someone can't afford the fee, but there are people writing often with thousands of followers who aren't members. I think they should be able to afford the $5 because they are making much more than that each month.

It's difficult to track unless they are the only person that claps on an older article. Some also make the mistake of clapping on several articles in a row.