The more people invest in ETFs/indexes/passively, the more opportunity there will be for active traders (indices by definition are adjusted to average and leave underpriced assets in the index), and so I don't think it's that surprising we're seeing more people try.

What to do with money is kind of like politics - people have different risk preferences/processes/deep rooted beliefs on what is right. And like politics, there is "no one right answer" but instead what compromises one wishes to make and what is relevant to their specific situation (ex. gun holders in middle of nowhere farmland vs. anti-gun urban dwellers).

I think Robinhood is net positive and kind of like political voting in that way - it empowers people to do something they couldn't before, and allow them to test their value systems in the real world.