We're relying way too much on YouTube.
I am subscribed to Nebula too, but that is more of a curated site of already established creators. I'd rather see again the open and free YT of ten years ago.
Joking aside, I think the "competition is just a click away" applies here it's just that the competition isnt as good.
The competition does not have Youtube's network effects.
Apple or Facebook or Amazon or Microsoft have the cash, but obviously none of them see a sufficient likelihood of sufficient ROI.
I cannot blame anyone who does not want to start a YouTube competitor, the moderation costs alone must be insane.
But for video creators interested in sharing their work, they can do it without Google, and it has never been easier in the history of the world.
Or they're back at their old tricks and are doing cartel stuff again; making secret agreements with each other about respecting each other's home turf.
Vimeo has been around since 2004 catering to businesses, who are far likelier to be paying customers requiring much smaller expenses for content moderation, and still does not earn a profit.
You don't have to deal with network effects and technology, you also have to deal with a host of thorny copyright issues. There were times when youtube was in less than favorable legal waters. Without a Google-sized team of lawyers to deal with these things it would've probably been sued out of existence long ago.
Some users now double publish as backup to YouTube censorship