Complex Mask, am I missing something

[GoldingD]

First a workflow creating a complex mask. 

• Create a mask, in this case Select Sky
• Add a mask component, in this case Intersect Color Range, I select the Blue
• Add another component, in this case A subtract, color range, click on a cloud (yes, I know I could alter a different way) note, Yellowstone Geyser Basin so lots of steam. Good, what I want in the mask is included, what I do not is excluded.
• Go to sliders, cool it down, darken a bit, good, now to apply a grad.
• Now I add a linear  gradient. Problem, Cannot adjust exposure for just the gradient.

The  sliders do not just alter the individual mask component. No matter where in the mask structure you click on. The  the sliders alter the entire mask, not just the mask component.

Yes, I have read and watched material on masking, maybe I missed something.

Current solution is to create a separate linear grad mask.

[JohanElzenga · Accepted solution]

The 'current solution' is the only correct approach. If you want to add a gradient with its own adjustment, then that gradient needs to be a mask of its own, not a component of the other mask.