One question about Airbnb.. Before covid, were people still renting to sleep on the couch? For me, Airbnb was always this "I don't want a hotel room, I'd rather have an apartment by myself". I know some people would rent a room.. but the couch..?

I'm asking because I keep hearing that at first nobody thought that renting their couch was a good business idea, and how airbnb proved them wrong, yada yada. But IMHO, if right from the bat they explained how they'd be a full blown competitor to hotels because cheaper price and more convenient, I feel like the conversation would have been different with VCs.