This is an economy where content competes for clicks, not clicks competing for content. The author of that content wants me to see it, Medium doesn't want me to see it. I don't care enough to try to circumvent their arrangement.
Given the number of votes on my root comment, it seems neither do most people.
You can also use Reader Mode on Safari, which not only avoids the modals and popups but gets rid of the top and bottom bars as well. Long-click on the Reader Mode button and you can set it to always use it on medium.com.
This is an economy where content competes for clicks, not clicks competing for content. The author of that content wants me to see it, Medium doesn't want me to see it. I don't care enough to try to circumvent their arrangement.
Given the number of votes on my root comment, it seems neither do most people.