Ads are often misleading though. You know, it "looks bigger in the picture" type of thing. If ads were honest, the hose hideaway my wife just ordered would have said "flimsy piece of plastic shit you will throw away after a year, but should get you through the summer".

I think it's easy to lie to consumers. Then, how much agency do they have?

The best ad placement for a consumer is one for the best product of the sort they want.

Taking money to decide which of the options to show is in conflict with the goal of showing the most appropriate.

How do you know that only a consumer that wants what an advertiser is selling would receive an ad for that product?

it turns out "consumer agency" is ineffective and that people are actually very susceptible to having thoughts beamed into their heads

Seriously? 99% of the ads are trying to sell stuff you dont need at all. But they want to sell that to you. Why would you rely on an ad to realize what you NEED and then buy it?