It always amazes me that there is this hardcore of people on hn who are so anti ProtonMail.

If you use gmail, It is my understanding that google ai will routinely read all your messages and add anything interesting to your profile so they can target you for ads. Law enforcement also has open access to everything in your mailbox all of the time.

ProtonMail don't read your email but will supply metadata to authorities in response to a lawful warrant.

That still feels like a difference between gmail and ProtonMail. I pay for that difference, your money your choice.