For that matter why is it my business to pay for profit content creators?

If you prefer creators who only do YouTube as a hobby, that’s fair game, no questions asked. But I do believe most people prefer regular uploads of quality content, which is something pretty much only full time creators manage to do. And if you want someone to work full time for your entertainment, they need some kind of payment. Who do you think should pay them?

I do what I please and it is up to them to figure it out.

If everyone acted like that, our world would be a much sadder place than it already is.

The only creators calling third party clients theft are the ones making millions

So why not support the ones who don’t say that?

I’m not trying to say what you do is theft. In my opinion it’s much more nuanced, and also about how much you earn, etc. But in the end I dont think there’s any way around having to pay the people who make quality content. So if you have the means, please at least consider doing so.