The traditional way maybe longer : minimal investment and constant self sustainability, but it seems also better at helping founder adapt to changes in costing and technologies.
When you have 50 customers it is easier to recognize you made a mistake in architecture and change it. While aggressive market spreading with freemium lock you in faster and makes you less agile.
Also you get very soon aware of your real costs.
But, the problem is VC+startup tends to aggressively compete with sound business in a way that has nothing to do with pure merit but often just the capacity to access capital (which according to most studies relate to birth).
I am an hardcore historical liberal, I don't really think that birth is a merit that is leading to a competitive market. Else, most of the leading economical nations would have remained monarchies. I also accept people have the right to live in dignity from their work and do not have to be all entrepreneurs.
I kind of think people misunderstand what liberalism is.
It is the right for people to choose a dignified existence through work with a clear contract of one hour worked has to be paid, and the right if people wishes to be entrepreneurs that have the possibility to access to a truly competitive market based on their merit without distortion.
And like any liberal I think it contributes to prosperity wealth and happiness of the Nations in an efficient way.