I built an ADHD support app and people are upset about the AI-generated images

The post created a lot of heat on two fronts. First, some did not like the fact that I offer a premium level. It's 5$ a month, and the majority of the necessary tools are still free, even without an account. I know of no one in this niche asking less than this, but the backlash was horrible nonetheless.

The larger backlash was the AI artwork in my blog. Each picture was cleared with the writer of the article, but several commenters stated I should have hired a freelancer instead. The project is funded independently; paying for art per post would draw my budget quickly dry, and I intend to release a great deal.

Several individuals also assumed that if pictures are AI-created, then the therapeutic techniques must be AI-created as well. They're not. I accumulated them over months, cross-checked the research, and added a page on the website that cites the science that supports each technique.

So I'm posing the question to the community: are AI images really such a game changer? Do they render useless the value of a tool that already helps users? I'd love to know where your line is and how indy builders like me can meet expectations without sinking the ship.