I don't use Kudos. I tell the author exactly what I think in a comment, or I don't tell them because a) it sucked, or b) life is super busy/crazy/horrible and I can't physically/mentally drag a comment out of me, then I feel horribly guilty, then I try to comment on the 2nd/11th/5483925743th time I read it and meanwhile I write stories that I know people read but don't comment on for pretty much exactly the same reasons and the world goes around.
Even feeling guilty, though, it never occurs to me to use the Kudos button. I'm honestly not sure I've ever done it. I love seeing people write long, detailed flaily comments, I love thinking about the author's glee when they get those long detailed flaily comments, and if I can't bring them that glee then I don't feel right doing anything else for what personally feels like my own convenience. Comments SHOULD require sacrifice, in my opinion, something to acknowledge the writer bringing something new into the world. Plus, fandom is a gift economy: the writer made a gift of their story to me, and I make a gift of my appreciation to them. A Kudo just doesn't feel like I'm giving them back anything that shows how much I valued their work.
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Even feeling guilty, though, it never occurs to me to use the Kudos button. I'm honestly not sure I've ever done it. I love seeing people write long, detailed flaily comments, I love thinking about the author's glee when they get those long detailed flaily comments, and if I can't bring them that glee then I don't feel right doing anything else for what personally feels like my own convenience. Comments SHOULD require sacrifice, in my opinion, something to acknowledge the writer bringing something new into the world. Plus, fandom is a gift economy: the writer made a gift of their story to me, and I make a gift of my appreciation to them. A Kudo just doesn't feel like I'm giving them back anything that shows how much I valued their work.
I am myself. Your mileage may vary. [shrugs]