Your experience pretty much mirrors mine. But, gotta say that it's not just the quantity of articles, but the quality that counts as well, or even moreso. Once you've established a "following," a "brand," or found a niche wherein readers expect you to appear, it's much easier to sit back and make money off "residual" (past) pieces. This also allows me to study and write in other areas which interest me without suffering loss in "basic" readership or income.

Yep...I really like the fact that I can and do make money while I'm sleeping.

interesting...and timely essay.