Not sure if it's true, but what you're writing makes it sound like you feel entitled to use their product for free. Not a compelling argument.
edit: To make it really clear, Odysee is not the only thing I'm paying for. I'm also paying for example for Apple Family, HBO GO, Spotify, mailhosting etc. I'm also sponsoring SponsorBlock extension. As I said: I don't have a problem with paying for a product or service. I have a big problem when someone deliberately and needlesly cripples a product just so they can sell you a solution to the (unnecessary) problem they artificially created. I mean: Background play behind a paywall? Really? Is that the bar that we think is acceptable these days?
I'm not a big fan of everything YouTube does either, but this stance of yours bothers me, too.
> I have a big problem when someone deliberately and needlesly cripples a product just so they can sell you a solution to the (unnecessary) problem they artificially created
The whole of YouTube is artificially created. It wouldn't be there without the people who run it, and they get to decide how they want to monetize. You can take it or leave it, or say "screw your rules, I'm using this anyway". Just realize that this is not necessarily read as some form of rebellion against the man or whatever, but instead as a neat excuse to help yourself to some free content.
The content on YouTube you're watching also would not exist without the people who create it. It would be nice if you gave back to at least some of them, somehow, in a way that's independent from YouTube. That would be a more interesting and constructive position to take.
(edited spelling)