Sometimes I have a problem that could be solved with money. I google/whatever favorite search engine is for a product that solves the problem that I want to solve. At no point adtech is required, in fact I would prefer if adtech wasn't involved.

I don’t know, I have all ads blocked everywhere and still discover new products. I also discovered new things, before the internet was such an ad-ridden mess that adblockers became a requirement for decent UX.

Just like before there were targeted ads?

Do they really need to know with which hand I am likely to wipe my arse with, though?

Smaller companies using the services provided by the bigger fish have caused a self-perpetuating circle of ever increasing imbalances in many areas.

The resources that are being spent on not only keeping this machine in tact, but as seen in the article, grow it even further, show that this machine isn't going to stop itself and that higher intervention is required.

This is going to be costly and hurt in other ways, but with it being a massive stap towards a sort of post-scarcity society as was shown in Star Trek and by the Venus project, it's worth every tear and every penny.