> People have plenty control over what content they see (via follows, blocks, hides, downvotes etc)

Only if you factor in content blocking extensions. Otherwise, how do I get rid of inorganic "recommended" (promoted) content? How do I get rid of the "Trending", "Shorts", and "Top News" crap without an extension? And controls like youtube's "Don't recommend this channel" and downvoting don't actually prevent youtube from recommending those things again, the official controls given to users for controlling their recommendations are unreliable at best, if not outright placebos.

Youtube could implement these features properly but don't care to. Extensions like blocktube are the answer, but it shouldn't have to be this way.