A good idea but I feel giving value to a one liner or a link would be difficult, unless a set of criteria is defined early on. But I do agree that even short posts can have value and should be rewarded.
However, unlike Steemit, Medium is not a social network - it's a publishing platform.
Regarding this I differ. As of now we are just that, a publishing platform. I do understand we are in beta and changes are proposed, but the changes happening are more about the coin than the social aspect of things, and this worries me.
If you listen to Ned's various public appearances, he emphasises on upcoming social networking features always. Now, there hasn't been much regarding what they exactly are, as understandably the economic changes are the first priority.