The other thing with ytdl/pinchflat that adds friction - there is no discovery outside of word-of-mouth.
Pro - can't get hooked on new channels easily
Con- can't algo discover new content that might...
Those real-world constraints are the reality that these companies tried to hide with the free lie. The cost was literal life hours and psychological/biological manipulation to pay for it. Now we have psychological, biological, social and economic problems just so people don't have to pay for content.